Date:12/05/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/12/stories/2006051204140300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Erode

AIADMK bastion shattered

R. Sundaram

DMK secures nine seats out of 11 in the district

In Vellakoil, the two-time MLA, M.P. Saminathan, secured a hat-trick victory

ERODE: The DMK has inflicted a severe blow to the AIADMK in the district, which is considered its bastion. In 2001, the AIADMK has secured eight seats and its then alliance partner PMK two. But this time the AIADMK could win only two seats - Perundurai and Gobichettipalayam.

In Erode, till the 14th round of counting out of 23 rounds, the AIADMK was leading with 934 votes. But from 15th round till the end the DMK candidate started overtaking him. At the end of the counting, the DMK secured 94,938 votes while the AIADMK candidate 84,107. The Desiya Murpokku Deavida Kazhagam candidate, V. C. Chandrakumar, secured 29,011 votes. In 2001 election the AIADMK candidate at Erode, K.S. Thennarasu, had defeated the DMK candidate, N.K.K.Periyasamy (father of the present DMK candidate N.K.K.P. Raja), by a margin of 24,380 votes. But this time the margin has fallen.

In the Modakurichi constituency, the AIADMK candidate, V.P. Namachivayam, was hopeful of victory till the end of ten rounds of counting. But from the 11th to 18th round, the Congress candidate, R.M. Palanisamy, came to the front and declared elected. The Congress candidate, R.M. Palanisamy, secured 64,825 votes and Namachivayam 60,765 votes. The DMDK candidate, B. Victoria secured 10,711 votes.

In Anthiyur (Reserve) constituency S. Gurusamy (DMK) secured 57,043 votes defeating M. Subramaniam (AIADMK) who obtained 37,300 votes. The DMDK candidate P. Jagadeeswaran secured 1,157 votes. The DMK candidate maintained the lead from the first round to 19th round.

In Kangeyam the Congress candidate Vidiyal S. Sekar secured 56,946 votes defeating the AIADMK candidate, N.M.S. Palaniswamy, by 49,650 votes. The DMK and its allied partners secured all the four seats.In Vellakoil, the two-time MLA, M.P. Saminathan, secured a hat-trick victory this time. He defeated the MDMK stalwart, A. Ganesamurthy.

In Bhavani, the PMK candidate, K.V. Ramanathan, defeated the sitting AIADMK MLA, K.C. Karupannan. The PMK candidate secured 52,603 votes while the AIADMK candidate 47,500. In 2001 election K.C. Karupannan had defeated the New Justice Party candidate, J. Sudhanandhen by a margin of 32,772 votes.

But this time Mr. Karupannan was defeated by a margin of 5,103 votes. In Dharapuram, the DMK candidate, Prabhavathy secured 55,312 votes defeating the AIADMK candidate, Ranganayagi by 50,600 votes. The DMDK candidate got 11,288 votes.

The AIADMK retained the Perundurai constituency. C. Ponnudurai defeated the CPI candidate, N. Periyasamy. The AIADMK candidate secured 59,631 votes and the CPI candidate 51,053. The DMDK candidate secured 19,212 votes.