The ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam candidate suffered a bitter defeat in the election for ward 1 of Palayamkottai panchayat union as the candidate C. Kaatturaja lost the battle of ballots to independent candidate D. Chelladurai by a margin of 313 votes.
While Mr. Chelladurai, a Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam functionary who entered the fray as an independent after the Opposition party decided to boycott the poll, garnered 1,409 votes, Mr. Kaatturaja got only 1,096 votes.
However, the ruling party candidates emphatically won the election held for all other urban local body vacancies, including Sundarapandiapuram town panchayat chairman, all three wards of as many town panchayats and municipalities in the district.
WinnersPalayamkottai panchayat union ward 1 (SC – General) - E. Paulraj (Independent), Valliyoor panchayat union ward 7 (General) – V. George (AIADMK), Sundarapandiapuram town panchayat chairman (Gen) – V. Pandaaram (AIADMK), Panagudi town panchayat ward 3 (SC-Gen) – S. Jayapaul (AIADMK), Thirukkurunkudi town panchayat ward 3 (Gen) – M. Murugan (AIADMK), Melagaram town panchayat ward 5 (Gen) – E. Murugan (AIADMK).
Kadayanallur municipality ward 19 (Gen) – M. Shaik Udhuman (AIADMK), Tenkasi municipality ward 14 (Gen) – S. Chandran (AIADMK) and Vickramasingapuram municipality ward 20 (SC – Woman) – S. Muthucharam (AIADMK).
Besides this, election for 15 panchayat wards was also held on September 18. Of the 24 persons elected in this by-election, six persons were Dalits, including four women.
Since the ruling AIADMK wrested all urban local body vacancies except Palayamkottai panchayat union ward 1, the party functionaries celebrated the victory with crackers and sweets.
MPs Vijila Sathyananth and Vasanthi Murugesan, Mayor-elect E. Bhuvaneshwari and Deputy Mayor P. Jeganathan alias Ganesan participated in the celebrations.