Chief Minister and AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa on Sunday described her party’s huge margin in the by-poll to Yercaud constituency as a mark of acknowledgement of people’s approval for various welfare programmes implemented by her government in the last two and a half years.
Accepting greetings of her party members at her Poes Garden residence at around 12.30 p.m, Ms. Jayalalithaa said it was evident that the benefits of the programmes reached the people, who had welcomed the measures. When her initial reaction came, the counting process was half way through, and she was responding to the development of her party‘s unassailable lead over the DMK in Yercaud, Partymen celebrated the victory by bursting firecrackers and distributing sweets outside her residence and the AIADMK headquarters in Royapettah.
Ms. Jayalalithaa also said, “My heartfelt thanks to voters of the Yercaud Assembly constituency who gave us a huge victory.”
Appreciating her party workers who strove hard for the outcome, she also thanked the leaders and volunteers of allies of the AIADMK.
To persistent questions by reporters on results of Assembly elections in four northern States, Ms. Jayalalithaa replied: “Allow us to enjoy our victory. I will speak about them later.”
Later in a statement released in the evening, Ms. Jayalalithaa said the partymen should strive hard to ensure the AIADMK’s victory in all parliamentary constituencies during the ensuing Lok Sabha elections.
“It was money power”
Meanwhile, DMK president M. Karunanidhi alleged that the AIADMK’s victory should be attributed to the exercise of money power and violence. He also complained that the ruling party had a scant regard for the model code of conduct. In a statement here, he said there was no need for the DMK men to get dejected by the outcome of the elections.
PMK leader said the fact that many voters had opted for NOTA went to show the people’s “antipathy” for the Dravidian parties.
All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi president R.Sarathkumar termed the victory in the by-poll as a fitting reward to the ruling party which implemented several welfare measures.
