Jaya storms back to power in landslide victory

Riding on an anti-incumbency wave, Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK front today stormed to power handing a crushing defeat to the DMK-Congress combine in Tamil Nadu Assembly polls.

With results declared for 103 of the 234 seats, AIADMK won 66 and its allies DMDK (12), CPI (5) and CPI(M) (6).

AIADMK was leading in 94 constituencies and the DMDK in 22. The two Left parties were leading in 10 constituencies.

DMK managed to win 10 seats and was leading in 15 others as its 87-year old President and Chief Minister M Karunanidhi emerged successful in Tiruvarur by a huge margin of over 50,000 votes, for his consecutive 12th term.

Congress, which had bargained hard for 63 constituencies in seat sharing talks, put up a miserable show winning just four seats and leading in two. PMK was yet to open its account but was leading in four seats.

People's decisive mandate against the DMK comes against the backdrop of the 2G spectrum allocation scam, power cuts, spiralling prices, and the Karunanidhi family's "domination" in all spheres including celluloid and TV broadcasting.

Conceding the defeat, the DMK patriarch said people had given him "proper rest" and lost no time in submitting the resignation of his government which was accepted by Governor SS Barnala.

Overwhelmed by the victory, which belied predictions by poll surveys and exit polls, Jayalalithaa said the people were "totally disgusted" with the DMK government and were waiting for the election day to show their "anger and resentment".

Most of the senior DMK ministers including party veteran K Anbazhagan bit the dust in the fiercely-fought polls.

Kolathur, where Karunanidhi's son MK Stalin is facing tough challenge from AIADMK's S Duraisamy, saw a see-saw battle with fortunes swinging either way.