Date:12/05/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/12/stories/2006051212490400.htm

Tamil Nadu

Unusual verdict from south

S. Annamalai

MADURAI: The Assembly elections have delivered an unusual verdict.

Since the advent of M. G. Ramachandran in 1977, when he contested from Aruppukottai, people have decisively favoured one front or the other in all but one election. There was a three-way split when the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam contested as two factions and the Congress and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam went on their own.

The 2006 verdict is split at two levels.

Unlike in the last three elections, when either of the two major fronts had to contend with a single digit performance, the seats have been shared with the Democratic Progressive Alliance walking away with 41 of the 63 seats in the nine districts.

There is also a split at another level. The `south' has split as `south' and `deep south.'

The AIADMK overtook the DMK in three districts, drew with it in one and lost in five others. In fact, the ruling party drew a blank in Kanyakumari and Ramanathapuram.

However, it managed to retain its supremacy in Madurai, Theni and Tuticorin.

Contiguous Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli voted overwhelmingly in favour of the DPA, along with Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga and Dindigul. In Virudhunagar, the DPA was banking on the traditional vote bank of the Congress and the AIADMK on the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's strong roots. This resulted in a 50-50 split verdict.

The southern surprise is Madurai where the DPA was expected to perform better, taking into consideration the urban nature of a majority of the 10 constituencies. But the verdict has gone in favour of the AIADMK 6-4. The Bharatiya Janata Party, which hoped to enter the Assembly from Kanyakumari district, has also drawn a blank.

But the talk of the town is the votes candidates of Desiya Murpokku Dravidar Kazhagam and All India Forward Bloc polled in many constituencies.

Their votes were several times higher than the victory margin of the candidates of two major fronts. Prominent among the winners are Ms. Jayalalithaa (Andipatti), O. Paneerselvam (Periyakulam), P.T.R. Palanivel Rajan (Madurai Central), R. Viswanathan (Natham), M. Appavoo (Radhapuram), KKSSR. Ramachandran (Sattur) and S. Peter Alphonse (Kadayanallur). Prominent losers are Nainar Nagendran (Tirunelveli) and N. Thalavai Sundaram (Kanyakumari)

The following is the district-wise break up of seats for each party (contested-won):

Madurai: Total seats 10. AIADMK 8-5, DMK 6-3, MDMK 2-1, CPI (M) 2-1.

Dindigul: Total seats 7. AIADMK 6-2, DMK 4-3, Congress 2-1, CPI (M) 1-1.

Theni: Total seats 5. AIADMK 5-3, DMK 4-1, MDMK 1-1.

Sivaganga: Total seats 5. AIADMK 4-1, DMK 2-2, Congress 2-1, CPI 1-1.

Ramanathapuram: Total seats 5. DMK 2-2, Congress 3-3.

Virudhunagar: Total seats 6. AIADMK 3-1, DMK 4-2, CPI 1-1, MDMK 2-2.

Tirunelveli: Total seats 11. AIADMK 9-1, DMK 7-6, Congress 3-3, MDMK 2-1.

Tuticorin: Total seats 7. AIADMK 5-4, DMK 4-1, Congress 2-2.

Kanyakumari: Total seats 7. DMK 3-3, Congress 2-2, CPI (M) 2-2.

Total: 63. AIADMK 16, DMK 23, Congress 12, MDMK 6, CPI (M) 4 and CPI 2.