Thondaiman attributes win to Chief Minister's people-oriented schemes
The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) on Friday won the by-election to the Pudukottai Assembly constituency by a huge margin of 71,498 votes.
While AIADMK candidate Karthik Thondaiman secured 1,01,998 votes, Jahir Hussain of the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) polled 30,500. All other 18 candidates lost their deposit.
Mr. Thondaiman established a lead of 3,233 votes in the first round and continued to build on it. Mr. Hussain secured between 1,100 and 1,500 votes in almost all the 23 rounds.
Of the total 108 postal ballots, 97 went to the AIADMK, two to the DMDK and nine were declared invalid.
AIADMK cadre turned euphoric after the third round of counting as Mr. Thondaiman was assured of a substantial lead.
They celebrated the victory by dancing and bursting firecrackers across the town and elsewhere in the district.
Addressing presspersons later, Mr. Thondaiman said that the victory was the outcome of Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's people-oriented schemes and programmes. He would strive to implement welfare measures for the voters of his constituency.
Returning Officer S. Muthumari handed over the election certificate to Mr. Thondaiman.
The seat fell vacant following the death of CPI MLA S. P. Muthukumaran in a road accident. The polling was held on June 12.
Total votes: 1,94,980. Votes polled: 1,43,277
Karthik Thondaiman (AIADMK) – 1,01,998; N. Jahir Hussain (DMDK) – 30,500;
N. Srinivasan (India Jananayaka Katchi) – 4,495;
S. Arivalagan (Makkal Manadu Katchi) – 1,370;
M. Vijayan (Communist party of India) (Marxist Leninist Liberation) - 253
Fifteen independents lost their deposits
Keywords: Pudukottai bypoll, AIADMK, DMDK, Karthik Thondaiman
I think some people here want to give advice to jayalalitha. It is not required. She knows better.
First may become second and vice versa in politics.Both victory and defeat are not permanent. It does not appear to be a big victory for AIADMK,since arch rival DMK was not contested the election.The Pudugai bi-election is not a test for AIADMK after hiking bus-fare,milk price and Electricity tarif to the sky level. The bielection was held in a part of Tamilnadu and it does not reflect the whole part of Tamilnadu. So the victory is not a tip of the ice-berg.Humiliation often gains more than pride, goes a proverb which may be reminisced by the winning party.
AIADMK has proved again that it continues to enjoy unquestioned loyalty
of the electorate.Its massive victory margins are indication of its hold
on power.DMDK retained deposit only because DMK votes shifted to it
while CPI which originally won the seat didnt even dare to contest.If
Jayalalitha continues her good governance i am sure AIADMK will sweep
all 40 seats in 2014
AIADMK should be magnanimous in its victory.It should treat the Opposition with dignity and fairly.A strong opposition is must for every democractic institution. Party should treat its opposition colleaques with due dignity to them. Jeering and ridiculing them and provoking them are not decent means to promote healthy democracy in the country.To political parties,victory and defeat is not permanent.People are still maturing.AIADMK is yet to pass its remaining 4 years in office with full of risks..Hope they will conduct themselves in a dignified manner to retain this victory for ever.otherwise they will loose to win the race in the Lok sabha election due in 2014.AIADMK should form an alliance with like minded parties to ensure 100 % win in the Lok Sabha election. Amma and Didi are yet to learn many things in politics.If they want to consolidate their gain for ever,they should try to co-exist with like minded others.
The comment herein is directed @ Mr. P. K. Raghavan. I fully agree with your viewpoint that a strong opposition is required for functioning democracy. Truth be told, what we have at center and at regional level are dysfunctional opposition. The opposition does not cognize the issues let one take any meaningful steps to resolve them. They are "understudy" working at the behest of their leaders such as Advani, Karunanidhi and in the present case Mr. Vijaykanth. Rest is assured that Mr. Vijaykanth could be history by next election cycle. Did anyone notice the conspicuous absence of DMK’s voice in supporting MDMK candidate during this Pudukottai election? Perhaps, the DMK wants AIDMK to do their dirty job to finish off MDMK.
ByPoll results have always gone in favour of ruling Party. So everyone expected ADMK to win this constituency and it has happened.Moreover all teh 32 ministers camped Pudukottai and visisted each and every household.The real performance of ADMK Government will be tested only during the Parliament elections in the year 2014.
DMDK,whether retains deposit or not,has emerged as the second largest party in Tamilnadu.Thanks for the self-destruction of DMK.May be a portion of the votes of the other paarties had also helped DMDK to up the ante.Mr.Karunanidhi is a distraught man now.None of his schemes are frutioning.He has to tow the line of congress,there is no alternative at this juncture,is another matter.This shows well in his lamenting that Kalam means Kalagam(Mischief mongering)in Tamil.I do not know from which Tamil Lexican,he had drawn this inference.Aging makes everybody refined and it is on the contrary in the case of Mr.Karunanidhi.
@Sivasankaran: It is not a claim by DMDK that it is the second largest party but is a fact. Also, DMDK is the opposition party in Tamilnadu assembly, nonetheless of whether Mr. Karunanidhi had made a mistake or not by not contesting in Pudukkottai assembly by-election.
Whether we like it or not, Vijayakath is leading second biggest party at this time. That is a fact. DMDK may have won many seats in the assembly due to electoral arrangement. But then, DMK could not win as much despite electoral arrangements with Congress and PMK. Let us not forget the smear campaign DMK ran on Vijayakanth with the help of Vadivelu(remember him?). As it stands, DMK cannot even decide who is next after Karunanidhi. Brothers cannot come to an agreement. Congress has been reduced to its worst position. PMK has been cleaned up. That leaves DMDK and communists. Communists are not big in TN. One has to agree that a good opposition is needed. But then, these leaders resign their MLA seat when they get humiliated in polls. If not, they run the risk of getting attacked in the assembly(refer March 25, 1989, saree stripping incident).
Selvi Jeyalalithaa follows the late MGR and a strong leader and her call for democracy, freedom, human rights, R2P, equality and dignity for the Eelam Tamils made her a global leader with full support Tamil Diaspora.If Selvi Jeyalalithaa visits US or UK to attend one of the Tamil events, she will be celebrated like a Queen of the Tamils. Selvi Jeyalalithaa should be the PM of India to put an end to corruption and bring all criminals to face Justice!
@ Raghavan P K : Your views speak about the ground situation that is prevalent in TN politics as the ruling party does not allow the opposition to air their just views in a democratic way, which is deplorable and the people of Tamil Nadu too are as usual no doubt sheepish, which the sheep themselves will be ashamed of to hear. What a pity !
Winning bye elections successively will not help the AIADMK to sweep the coming Lok Sabha Election in 2014.She should necessarily form an alliance with like minded parties in the State.What is the use of having loyalists surround her,when she is the only leader in the party,like Mamta in Trinamool Congress. Both are building strong castles on the sands! Unless they are realistic and share their charisma with others and respect others,their present success shall not endure long. Even if all the members of the Assembly belong to the ruling party it will not solve State`s problem.unless co-exist with others.There is no able spokeperson for the party in the Lok Sabha or in the State assembly.Only Amma`s voice is echoing.There is no team in the AIADMK or Thirunamool to lead the party for many more elections.Leaders should help others to shoulder responsibilities. They can win all elections in future too,if the electorates remain illiterate and immature.Electors awareness is poor
Retention of deposit can not be considered as a big victory for DMDK. Mr
Karunanidhi has done a mistake of not contesting. He has allowed
Vijaykanth to make tall claims now as the second biggest party in
Tamilnadu
It is time people realise that a strong opposition is also needed to nurish the democratic process.The ruling party leaders should allow the opposition parties to raise genuine issues in the legislature.Now the trend is that only CM will speak and others are simply yesmen in the dispensation.The present scenerio is such that there is no better alternative and do not want to go against the present government.
Please Email the Editor