Congress-DMK alliance wins Tamil Nadu, Puducherry slips away

The DMK-led alliance is set to register a thumping victory in Tamil Nadu Assembly polls. The DMK-plus was leading in 149 of the state's 234 Assembly constituencies while the AIADMK-led front that has BJP in it was leading in 85 seats at 8: 30 pm.

The AIADMK-led alliance’s final tally may settle below 80 seats, political observers said, as the margin of lead on several seats of AIADMK candidates was thin.

Congratulatory messages poured in from various opposition leaders for DMK president M.K. Stalin who is set to become Tamil Nadu chief minister for the first time. Thanking the well-wishers, Stalin said, “In the history of DMK, a new chapter is set to begin.”

“Tamil Nadu will now come back onto a path of secular and inclusive growth…

This victory will strengthen our resolve to work towards a fairer and more equal society….We will resolve to strengthen secular forces across the country,” Stalin wrote on Twitter in response to various congratulatory messages.

Responding to a message by senior Congress leader Anand Sharma, Stalin said, “Together, we will do all that we can to safeguard the founding principles of this great country - democracy, federalism and secularism.”

Those who congratulated Stalin and DMK-led alliance included NCP chief Sharad Pawar, Lalu Prasad Yadav, former J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah, former UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Leader of Opposition in Bihar Assembly Tejashvi Yadav, Shiromani Akali Dal’s Sukhbir Singh Badal and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.

The DMK-led alliance has notched up a comfortable lead routing the AIADMK front across the state barring the western belt where the latter is holding its own.

The DMK workers assembled at the party headquarters here and celebrated by bursting crackers and dancing.

According to Election Commission data, the DMK secured 37.2 per cent of the votes polled and with allies, it was about 43 per cent while the AIADMK got 33.5 per cent and along with allies it was about 41 per cent.

Besides anti-incumbency against the AIADMK government after 10 years of rule, there was also anti-BJP sentiment in Tamil Nadu.

In Puducherry, however, the NDA led by the All India NR Congress (AINRC) is leading with 13 seats in the 30-member Assembly. While the AINRC had won 10 seats, its ally BJP had won 3 seats and was leading on 2 seats.

The Congress had won 2 seats while DMK had won 3 seats and was leading in another three. Four Independent candidates had also won while 2 were leading. The Congress had won in Puducherry in 2016 and formed a government led by V Narayanasami.