DMK’s MK Stalin, Leader-in-Waiting for Decades, Wins Tamil Nadu
Will Stalin, a leader who has been cynical about the Centre’s handling of COVID, prove to be an able administrator?
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Video Editor: Rahul Sanpui
Anchor/Producer: Smitha TK
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) alliance, led by MK Stalin, has emerged victorious in Tamil Nadu, with leads in 159 seats.
Son of veteran leader Karunanidhi and the 68-year-old ‘leader-in-waiting’, MK Stalin, who has donned many roles – including the head of the DMK youth wing, mayor of Chennai, deputy chief minister, Opposition leader and DMK president – has now been elected as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
“I will be true to you. I will work for you. My thoughts and actions would always be for the people of Tamil Nadu,” he said appealing to his supporters to not violate COVID norms in order to celebrate their victory.
Stalin’s son Udhayanidhi, an actor who made his debut this election, won from the Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni constituency with a huge margin added to the controversy of dynasty politics within the DMK.
DMK’s Ezhilan won in Thousand Lights, while MRK Panneerselvam and Duraimurugan won from Kurinjipadi and Katpadi, respectively, after a close chase.
DMK’s alliance partner Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) contested only six seats but bagged a significant vote share and emerged victorious in four seats.
AIADMK Performed Well But Alliance With BJP Didn't Work Out?
Analysts said that All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), led by Edappadi K Palaniswami, would have performed much better and might have even won if it hadn't aligned with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The AIADMK had performed quite well in the delta region and northern Tamil Nadu, but they lost several key constituencies in Chennai and ministers like Jayakumar were defeated by the DMK.
Meanwhile, trying to make inroads to Tamil Nadu, the BJP has managed to win in three seats. After a much controversial day, BJP's state unit chief L Murugan stood defeated after a tough contest in Dharapuram, and the party's most popular face in Tamil Nadu, actor-turned-politician Kushboo Sundar, faced defeat in Thousand Lights.
TTV Dhinakaran’s Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) failed to make a mark but surely ate into the vote share of the AIADMK, benefitting the DMK.
The new star this election season – Ulagayanaayagan Kamal Haasan – lost in Coimbatore South after a nail-biting contest with Congress’ Mayura Jayakumar and BJP’s Vanathi Srinivasan.
Puducherry Now Gets an NR Congress-BJP Govt
Meanwhile in Puducherry, which is currently under President's Rule after the dramatic collapse of the V Narayanasamy-led Congress government, a BJP-NR Congress government will come to power.
Former Congress legislator A John Kumar, who joined the BJP, won the Kamaraj Nagar constituency. Meanwhile, the alliance’s CM candidate Rangasamy won from Thattanchavady. Yanam, a Congress bastion, was led by former Health Minister Malladi Krishna Rao, but he quit the party and backed Rangasamy.
A Namassivayam, who quit Congress and contested on a BJP ticket from the Mannadipet constituency won the seat defeating the DMK.
The battle is won but a war awaits. A surge in COVID cases is on in Tamil Nadu that is reporting over 15,000 coronavirus cases daily. Will Stalin, a leader who has been cynical about the Centre’s handling of COVID, prove to be an able administrator?
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