The cocktail of corruption and nepotism has sunk the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam coalition in Tamil Nadu, says senior Rajya Sabha leader Dr V Maitreyan.

Responding to exit polls predicting that the his party, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, will return to power in the state, Maitreyan says that people have reacted strongly against the family rule.

Exit poll: DMK routed, Left loses Kerala, Bengal

Talking to rediff.com, the senior Rajya Sabha leader said: "If this survey is correct, I can only say that the Karunanidhi family's domination over Tamil Nadu and their rampant corruption has been resented by the voters. People knew well about the 2G spectrum scam."

He said that the so-called welfare scheme for the poor didn't help DMK.

"The 2G scam proved more powerful than freebies rolled out by the DMK government. If the AIADMK wins, the people of Tamil Nadu will be freed from the reign of terror," he said.

Dr Maitreyan added, "The credit for the poll results goes to (party chief) J Jayalalithaa's stellar performance. The way she conducted the campaign against the DMK deserves credit."

Coverage: Assembly Elections 2011

In Tamil Nadu, since the past many years, when the government changes hand the politics of vendetta is witnessed.

When asked about it Dr Maitreyan said: "The family (Karunanidhi's clan) has lots of problems. On May 14, Kanimozhi is likely to go to jail. They have indulged in so much corruption that if the government finds an open-and-shut case, then the law will have to take its own course."