Madurai wore a deserted look on Thursday as the streets remained bare and most shops in major market areas, including Simmakkal and Mattuthavani, remained closed on the counting day of the Lok Sabha election. Celebrations were sparse as some cadre from the CPI(M), DMK and BJP distributed sweets to celebrate victory.
DMK functionaries, including former Mayor P. Kulandaivelu, distributed sweets near Madurai railway junction around 5 p.m. to celebrate the victory of Su. Venkatesan, the candidate of the CPI (M), a DMK ally.
Earlier in the day, members of the BJP also distributed sweets to celebrate the landslide victory of the party across the country.
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N. Palpandi, a party functionary and member of Centre of Indian Trade Unions, said Su. Venkatesan won because labourers from Madurai rallied for him. “We are elated about the victory. Madurai has a large population of labourers. The victory should be viewed as a statement by Dalits and other marginalised communities against the Centre’s oppressive rule,” he said.
Commenting on BJP’s win in the Lok Sabha elections, M. Sethuraman, secretary, Avaniapuram unit of the CPI (M), said that many in his party continued to harbour doubts regarding the transportation of EVM machines. “For now, we are happy with our candidate’s massive victory,” he said.