In an official statement, Vijay urged party functionaries and cadres to work towards a “historic victory” with a “single goal”.

CHENNAI: Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam president and chief minister C Joseph Vijay on Thursday announced Maragatham Kumaravel and P Sathyabama as the candidates of the party-led Secular Social Justice alliance for the upcoming by-elections to Mathurantagam and Dharapuram Assembly constituencies. Both will contest on the TVK Whistle symbol.In an official statement, Vijay urged party functionaries and cadres to work towards a “historic victory” with a “single goal”.Maragatham Kumaravel and Sathyabama were elected on AIADMK’s Two Leaves symbol in the previous election, defeating candidates from both DMK and TVK. However, they submitted their resignations to Speaker JCD Prabhakar on May 25 and joined TVK shortly after meeting PWD minister Aadhav Arjuna at the Secretariat.

Their resignation triggered the current by-polls. They were among the six AIADMK MLAs who switched sides after resigning their post.Leaders of alliance partners, including the Congress, MDMK, VCK, and IUML, met on Wednesday to formally name the coalition and pledge their support, confirming a joint campaign for both constituencies under TVK leadership.