DMK leader blames ruling party defections for Tamil Nadu bypoll

DMK leader Kanimozhi has accused the ruling AIADMK of engineering the recent bypoll through candidate defections, claiming the party poached an opposition-backed legislator after the election. Speaking to voters, Kanimozhi alleged that citizens who voted for the candidate in good faith saw her switch allegiances to the ruling dispensation following her election victory. The politician cautioned that continued support for the AIADMK could result in repeated bypolls, as the party appears intent on absorbing opposition candidates post-election. Kanimozhi's remarks underscore growing tensions between the DMK and AIADMK over defections ahead of upcoming electoral contests in the state. The incident reflects a pattern of candidate movements between parties in Tamil Nadu politics, with both major coalitions frequently accused of poaching legislators from rival camps to shore up their strength in the assembly.