Sattankulam: The ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) on March 1 won the by-election to Sattankulam Assembly constituency in Tamil Nadu defeating Congress by a margin of over 14,000 votes, officials said.

AIADMK's L Neelamegavarnam polled 57,385 votes, while his nearest Congress rival R Mahendran secured 41,930 votes.

The seat was held by the Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC), which has since merged with its parent Congress party.

The election, held on February 26, was caused by the death of sitting member Mani Nadar.

While principal opposition DMK had boycotted the poll, other Opposition parties, including Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), preferred not to contest, leaving the AIADMK and Congress in a virtual straight battle.

PTI