Ruling DMK-led front has taken an early lead in 13 constituencies while the AIADMK combine is ahead in five seats in Tamil Nadu, according to latest trends.
DMK was ahead in eight constituencies while its allies Congress was leading in four and VCK in one. Prominent among the leading DMK candidates are Chief Minister M Karunanidhi's son M K Azhagiri (Madurai), his grand nephew Dayanidhi Maran (Central Chennai) and Union Ministers T R Baalu (Sriperumbudur) and A.Raja (Nilgiris)
DMK is also leading in Kanyakumari, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur and North Chennai. In a neck-and-neck battle, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, who led initially in his Sivaganga constituency, was trailing by 300 votes against his AIADMK candidate Raja Kannappan.
Union Panchayati Raj Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar too was trailing in his Mayiladuthurai constituency by over 1000 votes while his ministerial colleague E V K S Elangovan was behind by 2000 votes against his MDMK rival A Ganesamurthy in Erode.
Tamil Nadu Congress Committee President K V Thangkabalu was leading in Salem, while the party nominees were ahead in Theni, Dindigul and Virudhunagar.
UPA ally VCK's leader Thol Tirumavalavan has established early lead in Chidambaram constituency.
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AIADMK front was leading in Chennai South, Mayiladuthurai, Sivaganga, Namakkal and Tiruchirapalli. MDMK chief Vaiko was pushed to the third place in Virudhunagar, where Congress candidate Manik Tagore is ahead by 1,000 votes over DMDK rival K Pandiarajan.