DMK takes Tamil Nadu after 10-year gap
CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu’s principal opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) was sweeping back to power in the state ater a gap of 10 years with a thumping majority as counting of votes in the April 6 election progressed on Sunday.
As counting was still unfinished at 4pm IST, the DMK, with its main partner Congress, were projected to hit nearly 155 in the 234-strong Assembly where the majority mark is 118.
The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by the outgoing ruling party Anna DMK and its main partners Patali Makkal Katchi ( PMK) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were seen winning 75 to 80 seats.
The state saw a tough batle in spite of the surveys predicting a landslide for the DMK front. DMK president MK Stalin is poised to be sworn in as chief minister, a job he has dreamt of for long decades.
He was leading the DMK into an Assembly election for the first time, ater the demise of his father and five-time chief minister M. Karunanidhi.
Stalin (Kolathur), his son and DMK Youth Wing leader Udhayanihi (Chepauk-tiruvallikeni), Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswamy (Edappadi), Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam (Bodinayakanur), BJP State president L. Murugan (Dharapuram) are seen well-poised for victory, while actor Khushboo whom the BJP fielded in Thousand Lights was losing.
Actor Kamal Haasan, who contested on his Makkal Neethi Mayyam (MNM) party ticket, was headed for a win in Coimbatore South.
In the by-poll to Kanyakumari Lok Sabha seat, the Congress party’s Vijay Vasanth established an early 60,000 plus lead against the BJP’S Pon Radhakrishnan.
The by-poll was being held to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Vasanth’s father H. Vasanthakumar due to Covid 19.
In the neighbouring Union Territory of Puducherry, the NDA gained power dumping a Congress-led alliance.
Former chief minister and All India NR Congress founder (AINRC) Rangasamy will take over the reins.
However, the BJP were leading in just three seats in Tamil Nadu despite contesting 20 in its alliance with the ADMK.
The other national party, Congress, was projected to gain up to 19 of the nearly 150 seats that the DMK front was leading.
The DMK took all 16 constituencies in the metro city of Chennai.