The Hindu : National : AIADMK captures Mayiladuturai constituency

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Sunday, May 17, 2009
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AIADMK captures Mayiladuturai constituency

Special Correspondent

Presence of 17 independents believed to have minimised Aiyar’s winning chances

MAYILADUTURAI: For the first time, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, made in roads in the Congress bastion of Mayiladuturai Lok Sabha constituency and won the seat this time. O. S. Manian of the AIADMK defeated his nearest rival Mani Shankar Aiyar of the Congress by a margin of 36,854 votes. O. S. Manian polled 3,64,089 votes while Mani Shankar Aiyar got 3,27,235 votes.

The debacle of Mani Shankar Aiyar was attributed to the presence of 23 candidates including 17 independents who were in the fray for the seat. The winning chances of Mr. Aiyar was spoiled by the presence Dr. M. H. Zawahirullah of Manitha Neya Makkal Katchi who had secured 19,814 votes of the Muslims that could have gone in favour of Mr. Aiyar as he is popular with the Muslim community in the constituency. Besides, more than 31,000 votes secured by 17 independents also affected Mr. Aiyar to a great extent.

Besides, three other candidates – K. Pandian of the DMDK was polled 44,754 votes, S. Karthikeyan of the BJP 7,486 votes and L. V. Saptharishi (retired IAS officer) of the Bahujan Samaj Party 5,554 votes. The securing of as many as 1,08,156 votes by the various party candidates who had lost their deposits and 17 independents played spoilsport against Mani Shankar Aiyar.

Several local issues including non-establishment of new bus stand at Mayiladuturai, fishermen problems, non-construction of a new road bridge at Anaikarai and non-filling of vacancy in Government hospitals highlighted by the AIADMK during the election campaign came in favour of AIADMK candidate O. S. Manian. People in the constituency were shocked on hearing the defeat of Mr. Aiyar on Saturday. He had won the hearts of all sections of the society and great regard for nursing the constituency effectively by establishing a huge indoor stadium in Mayiladuturai, Aquaculture centre at Sirkazhi and providing quick tsunami rehabilitation works in the coastal areas.

A local Congress leader in Mayiladuturai said after the announcement of the results on Saturday that Mr. Aiyar did not take into cognizance of the independents and also about groups inside the party in the Papanasam and Kumbakonam assembly segments.

O. S. Manian of the AIADMK after winning the LS seat said that his party had worked hard throughout the constituency taking advantage of the dissatisfaction among voters against Mr. Aiyar.

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