Jaya leads AIADMK to second consecutive victory in TN

Jayalalithaa-led All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam juggernaut rolled on Thursday getting a simple majority with the chief minister bucking the anti-incumbency trend and retaining power in Tamil Nadu for a second consecutive term, the first time by anyone in the last three decades in the state.

The AIADMK bagged 134 seats as counting of votes was taken up for 232 of the 234 assembly constituencies. Polling in two constituencies has been postponed to May 23.

However, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and its allies -- including the Congress -- gave a tough fight to the AIADMK and emerged a strong opposition winning 97 seats. The DMK bagged 89 and while the Congress got eight.

This marked a significant gain from its 2011 performance when DMK had returned only 23 MLAs.

Jayalalithaa, who retained her RK Nagar seat in Chennai by a good margin, will assume office for the sixth time, belying majority of exit polls that gave the DMK the edge in this multi-cornered contest.

The Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam-People’s Welfare Front-Tamil Maanila Congress combine, the Bharatiya Janata Party and its smaller allies, the Pattali Makkal Katchi and Naam Tamizhar Katchi, which vied for honours with high-profile campaign, drew a blank as the battle proved to be confined between Dravidian archrivals the AIADMK and the DMK.

DMK supremo M Karunanidhi (Tiruvarur) and his son M K Stalin (Kolathur) won their seats comfortably.

However, the biggest losers seemed to be the DMDK-PWF-TMC alliance, led by actor-turned politician Vijayakant, and the BJP-led coalition of smaller parties, as both failed to make any gain despite projecting themselves as the third alternative.

The DMDK-PWF-TMC alliance’s chief ministerial candidate Vijaykant came a tame third in Ulundurpet while his PMK counterpart Anbumani Ramadoss was the runner-up in Pennagaram segment, which fell under his Dharmapuri Lok Sabha constituency.

An elated Jayalalithaa vowed to serve people with a newfound energy, saying that she will strive to fulfill all of the promises made in the AIADMK poll manifesto, such as free mobile phones and free 100 units of power to all.

“I am overwhelmed by the resounding victory the people of Tamil Nadu have given us. My party and I are indebted to the people of Tamil Nadu for giving this historic victory,” a beaming Jayalalithaa said.

She also said the outcome has put ‘permanent end to the family politics’ of the DMK.

However, the AIADMK faced some embarrassment when four of its senior ministers lost.

Image: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa flashes victory sign after her party emerged victorious in the state assembly polls, in Chennai on Thursday. Photograph: R Senthil Kumar/PTI Photo