CHENNAI, Oct. 10 -- The decisive victory of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) candidates in the Madurantakam (SC) and Dharapuram Assembly (SC) by-elections have provided chief minister C Joseph Vijay-led party more elbow room in the fragile coalition.

Even though the TVK emerged as the largest political party in the assembly elections, winning 108 of 234 seats, Vijay was able to form the government with the help of five MLAs from Congress, one each from Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and two MLAs each from CPI(M) and CPI.

On Friday, the TVK's K Maragatham Kumaravel won from Madurantakam (SC) and P Sathyabama from Dharapuram (SC) assembly seats. They had won this summer assembly polls from the...