‘Vijay Asked Me To Be Brave’: TVK’s Dharapuram Candidate On Stalin Remarks, Social Media Trolling

Last Updated:October 03, 2026, 10:32 IST

Speaking to CNN-News18, Sathyabama said she would not be deterred by the criticism and social media trolling directed at her during the campaign.

DMK Chief MK Stalin; Tamil Nadu CM C Joseph Vijay (R) (Image: News18 Media Gallery)

Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) candidate Sathyabama said Chief Minister and party president C Joseph Vijay asked her to remain “brave and strong” amid the controversy over remarks made by DMK president and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin during his campaign in Dharapuram.

Speaking to CNN-News18, Sathyabama said she would not be deterred by the criticism and social media trolling directed at her during the campaign for the October 6 Dharapuram Assembly bypoll.

“I believe the people of Dharapuram will support me,” Sathyabama said, adding that Vijay had told her to be courageous and stay strong.

The controversy erupted after Stalin, while campaigning for DMK candidate S Suganya in Dharapuram, referred to nicknames being used for Sathyabama, including “Petti Bama” and “Palti Bama”. He also made a reference to her appearance. TVK leaders accused Stalin of making derogatory and body-shaming remarks against the woman candidate.

The remarks triggered a political row ahead of polling in the constituency. TVK ministers K A Sengottaiyan and K G Arun Raj criticised Stalin and demanded an apology, arguing that political campaigning should not involve personal attacks against a woman candidate.

Sathyabama faced criticism on social media since she resigned as an AIADMK MLA and joined the ruling TVK. Earlier, she had denied allegations that she switched parties after receiving money, saying on social media that false information was being circulated about her resignation.

The personal attacks have also surfaced during her campaign. On September 30, Sathyabama became emotional while addressing a campaign meeting in Dharapuram and spoke about the criticism directed at her after joining TVK. Vijay, who was standing beside her, stepped forward to comfort her.

The latest controversy has added another layer to an increasingly heated Dharapuram bypoll campaign. Sathyabama, who won the seat as an AIADMK candidate in the 2026 Assembly election, resigned as MLA and subsequently joined TVK. She is now contesting the bypoll as the TVK candidate.

Voting for the Dharapuram bypoll is scheduled for October 6, with Sathyabama contesting for TVK and S Suganya representing the DMK. The constituency is among the two Tamil Nadu Assembly seats going to bypolls, with the contests also being closely watched as an early electoral test for Vijay’s TVK government.

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What remarks by MK Stalin during the Dharapuram campaign sparked controversy for TVK candidate Sathyabama?

DMK president M K Stalin referred to nicknames used for Sathyabama, such as “Petti Bama” and “Palti Bama,” and also made remarks about her appearance during a campaign speech. TVK leaders strongly condemned these statements as derogatory and body-shaming personal attacks against a woman candidate.

When is the Dharapuram Assembly bypoll scheduled to take place and who are the main candidates?

Voting for the Dharapuram Assembly bypoll is scheduled for October 6, 2026. Sathyabama is contesting the seat as the candidate for the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), while S Suganya is representing the DMK.

How did TVK party president C Joseph Vijay react when Sathyabama became emotional during her campaign?

While Sathyabama became emotional during an address at a campaign meeting in Dharapuram while discussing the criticism she faced after joining TVK, party president C Joseph Vijay stepped forward from where he was standing beside her to comfort her.

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