Tamil NaduThursday, 11 June 2026·The Hindu - Tamil Nadu
EC starts bypoll preparations for 5 vacant Tamil Nadu Assembly seats after resignations
The Election Commission began preparatory steps for bypolls to five vacant Assembly seats in Tamil Nadu after resignations in May 2026.
Key highlights
Direct fact
In June 2026, Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik began preparatory action for by-elections to five vacant Assembly seats, after the Legislative Assembly Secretariat declared the seats vacant following resignations in May 2026.
Key specifics
- CEO Archana Patnaik wrote to the District Collectors of Chengalpattu, Tiruchi, Erode, Tiruppur and Tirunelveli.
- The five seats mentioned are Perundurai, Madurantakam (SC), Dharapuram (SC), Ambasamudram and Tiruchi East.
- Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay resigned from Tiruchi East on May 10, 2026, after being elected from both Perambur and Tiruchi East.
- Three AIADMK rebel MLAs — S. Jayakumar, Maragatham Kumaravel and P. Sathyabama — resigned on May 25, 2026, and Esaki Subaya vacated Ambasamudram on May 26, 2026.
- Under the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the Election Commission may announce by-elections within 6 months from the date of vacancy.
Exam lens
Question type: Polity and election administration, vacancy and bypoll procedure, district mapping, Representation of the People Act, 1951; TNPSC may ask which authority initiates bypoll preparation and the 6-month vacancy rule.