Saidai S. Duraisamy of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) romped home with a margin of over 5.20 lakh votes in the election to the post of Chennai Mayor. The results of the election were declared on Friday and he is set to become the first AIADMK Mayor of the city.
The party also got an overwhelming majority in the 200-member Chennai Corporation Council. It was the first election after the Corporation limits were expanded by merging several adjacent local bodies.
Mr. Duraisamy defeated his nearest rival and outgoing Mayor of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) M. Subramanian by polling 12.40 lakh votes. Mr. Subramanian got 7.20 lakh votes. A total of 23.15 lakh voters had exercised their franchise on Monday to elect the Mayor and 200 councillors. In the recent elections to the State Assembly, Mr. Duraisamy gave a tough fight to former Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin in the Kolathur constituency.
ADVERTISEMENT
The thumping victory of the AIADMK in the Council elections and that of its Mayoral candidate is expected to help in introducing more schemes and implementing development projects in the city. With the AIADMK being in power in the State, the civic body is better placed in seeking assistance. Mr. Duraisamy is likely to assume office on Tuesday. Mr. Stalin was elected Mayor in 1996 and in 2001.
However, he had to resign as a one-man, one-post rule was introduced during the second tenure.
After that, Deputy Mayor Karate Thyagarajan was holding charge of the post of Mayor till the elections in 2006.
ADVERTISEMENT