Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], June 12 (ANI): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin attended the swearing-in ceremony of newly elected Congress MLA Tharahai Cuthbert in Chennai on Wednesday.

Cuthbert, 47, won the by-polls from Vilavancode assembly constituency by a margin of over 40,000 votes, which were necessitated due to the defection of former Congress MLA S Vijayadharini to the BJP. She secured 91,054 votes.

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BJP candidate VS Nanthini secured 50,880 votes, and Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) candidate R Jemini came third with 8,150 votes. U Rani of the AIADMK could secure 5,267 votes in the by-polls.

Vijayadharini, who defected to the BJP won the constituency for three consecutive terms in the 2011, 2016, and 2021 elections.

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Since 1971, the seat has been won by Congress seven times and by CPI(M) five times.

The Congress is part of the DMK-led ruling alliance in the state.

In the recently held Lok Sabha election, the INDIA bloc registered a landslide victory in Tamil Nadu winning all 39 seats in the state as well as the lone seat in neighbouring Puducherry. (ANI)

(The above story is verified and authored by ANI staff, ANI is South Asia's leading multimedia news agency with over 100 bureaus in India, South Asia and across the globe. ANI brings the latest news on Politics and Current Affairs in India & around the World, Sports, Health, Fitness, Entertainment, & News. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)