The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Wednesday (September 9, 2026) declared K. Sethu Selvam as the party candidate for the October 6 byelection at Thattanchavady Assembly constituency in Puducherry.

Mr. Selvam, a former member of the Communist Party of India (CPI), met former Chief Minister and DMK president M.K. Stalin on Wednesday at Chennai before his candidature was announced by the party. 

As the CPI candidate in 2021 Assembly polls, Mr. Selvam had come second in Thattanchavady constituency fighting against Chief Minister and AINRC founder N. Rangasamy. He had garnered around 32% of votes in the 2021 election.

Following his expulsion from CPI in 2025 over allegations of financial impropriety, Mr. Selvam contested as an Independent from Thattanchavady during the April 2026 polls.

He came third by garnering around 17 % of the votes pushing Member of Parliament and PCC chief V. Vaithilingam to the fourth place.