Published Jun 03, 2026 | 5:57 PM ⚊ Updated Jun 03, 2026 | 6:14 PM
Congress leader Praveen Chakravarty
Synopsis: The ruling TVK has allotted the vacant Rajya Sabha seat from Tamil Nadu to its alliance partner Congress following the resignation of AIADMK leader C.V. Shanmugam. Political circles speculate that Congress national office-bearer Praveen Chakravarty could emerge as the party’s candidate for the bypoll scheduled on June 18.
The ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) on Wednesday, 3 June, announced that it will allot the Rajya Sabha seat from Tamil Nadu, that fell vacant after AIADMK Rajya Sabha MP CV Shanmugam resigned from his position, to its alliance partner, Congress.
While there has been no official confirmation, political circles are abuzz with speculation that Congress national office-bearer Praveen Chakravarty may be fielded as the party’s candidate for the seat.
A source in the Tamil Nadu Congress also has informed South First, that, Praveen Chakravarthy is the frontrunner and is most likely to be named the party’s candidate.
Earlier, ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, the Congress party, then part of the DMK-led alliance, was allotted a Rajya Sabha seat as part of the alliance agreement. Congress functionary M. Christopher Tilak was nominated for the post and is currently serving as an MP.
Now, following the formation of the TVK-Congress alliance after the Assembly elections, TVK has announced that the newly vacant Rajya Sabha seat from Tamil Nadu will also be allotted to Congress party.
According to a notification issued on 2 June by Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Additional Secretary P. Thenmozhi, nominations for the Rajya Sabha by-election can be filed until 8 June.
The election for the seat is scheduled to take place on 18 June at the Secretariat.
The Rajya Sabha seat was previously held by senior AIADMK leader CV Shanmugam. He resigned from the Upper House to contest the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. Shanmugam subsequently contested from the Mailam Assembly constituency and won, resulting in the vacancy for which the election is now being held.
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