Chandrasekar led in Velachery constituency in Chennai against his AIADMK rival C Munusamy by 8,100 votes.
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The utter failure of the DMDK manned Third Front, and its CM candidate Vijayakanth, to gain a significant number of seats, has shown that the nascent idea of coalition governance has yet to take root in Tamil Nadu.
As the AIADMK pulled away from the competition, dozens of party leaders, top police officers and bureaucrats were seen making a beeline for Jayalalithaa’s Poes Garden residence in Chennai to wish her.
Most exit polls after voting ended on May 16 had predicted a DMK win. Probably the exit polls were based on those districts where the DMK has wrested the seats from the AIADMK, hence the exponential figures went wrong. The DMK had 23 and the Congress five, indicating the alliance had major gains but not enough to unseat Jayalalithaa. She is the first chief minister to win two consecutive elections since 1984 when her mentor M G Ramachandran won consecutive elections in 1980-’84.
Shah, during his election campaign in the State, had attacked the AIADMK government, describing it as the “most corrupt”.
Indira, also a member in the outgoing AIADMK cabinet, was humbled by M K Mohan (DMK) by a margin of 1,687 votes.
Addressing jubilant party workers, Jayalalithaa called the victory a historic one and vowed to strive for the people with renewed vigour.
“Therefore, (we are) indebted to people for this tremendous victory”, she said. Justifiably for her millions of fans and supporters as her illness had cramped her election campaign considerably as also her nearly two year disconnect with the people.
The 68-year-old actor-turned- politician said she had no interest in her life other than serving people and that her life was “dedicated to them”. With the DMK bagging 89 seats and its ally Congress winning eight and the Indian Union Muslim League one seat, the electorate shut its door on the other players.
Jayalalithaa promised free mobile phones for all ration card holders, 50 percent subsidy for purchase of scooters by women, free power up to 100 units and the like, if the party retains power.
Psephologists claim that a higher voter turnout nearly always points to an anti-incumbency vote and rarely goes in favour of a ruling party.
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“Had a telephone conversation with Jayalalithaa ji and congratulated her on her victory”.
