DMK completes clean sweep in Chennai, regains three AIADMK bastions after 20 years
The DMK has regained several constituencies from the AIADMK after 20 years such as Mylapore, Royapuram and RK Nagar, all with first-time candidates who took on heavyweights
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Express News Service
CHENNAI: The DMK delivered a rude shock to the AIADMK by sweeping all the seats in Chennai, besides performing well in the suburbs too.
Interestingly, the DMK has regained several constituencies from the AIADMK after 20 years such as Mylapore, Royapuram and RK Nagar, all with first-time candidates who took on heavyweights.
In these constituencies, the DMK which was not seen to have a chance performed commendably and even led with a huge margin of more than 20,000 in the last leg of counting.
Express News Service
CHENNAI: The message is clear. DMK wants to stand and win in almost all the constituencies where it can triumph alone, and regain the bastions lost to the AIADMK over the years, especially in Chennai.
DMK is contesting in 15 out of the 16 constituencies in Chennai this time and will take AIADMK head-on in 10 seats.
Even though the capital city has sent late DMK leader M Karunanidhi to the assembly from various constituencies - Chepauk, Anna Nagar, Saidapet, and Harbour - the party was not able to get a hold of all the constituencies.
While 13 constituencies in the city show a strong anti-incumbency in voting patterns for every five years, DMK has not been able to win in three constituencies for at least 20 years - Royapuram, RK Nagar, and Mylapore. In all these three constituencies, DMK last won in 1996 and have ever since remained an AIADMK stronghold.
Earlier reports hinted he would be denied ticket; what led to change in plans?
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DMK youth wing secretary Udayanidhi Stalin at party headquarters Anna Arivalayam in Chennai on Friday | P Jawahar
Express News Service
CHENNAI: It was the most obvious yet the most surprising choice in the DMK list of candidates Udhayanidhi Stalin contesting from Chepauk, a constituency represented by his grandfather and DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi. It was an obvious because, well, DMK is quite unpopular for its dynastic politics. Yet, it was surprising because rumours had it that Udhaya may be denied a seat, for now, to dodge barbs of DMK being a family-run party. The plan was to instead reserve the Chennai Mayor post for the scion.