India, Oct. 9 -- DMK president M K Stalin on Friday described the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam's (TVK) victory in the Madurantakam and Dharapuram Assembly by-elections as an "interim victory for betrayal", asserting that the decline of "politics built on false images" had begun.

In a social media post reacting to the results, the former chief minister questioned the need for the bypolls barely five months after the Assembly elections, alleging that they were necessitated after two MLAs elected on AIADMK tickets vacated their seats and joined the ruling TVK.

Stalin termed the development a "blatant murder of democracy" and thanked voters who backed candidates of the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, along with party cadres, allian...