Actor-politician Vijay's TVK created a record of sorts in the electoral history of Tamil Nadu and emerged as the single largest party by delivering a shock defeat to incumbent DMK president, CM MK Stalin
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CHENNAI — Actor-politician Vijay's TVK on Monday created a record of sorts in the electoral history of Tamil Nadu and emerged as the single largest party by delivering a shock defeat to incumbent DMK and its president, Chief Minister MK Stalin in his Kolathur constituency, while the AIADMK was pushed to a distant third spot.
This was the first time since 1967, when the first non-Congress government (DMK) came to power in the state, that a party other than the two Dravidian heavyweights emerged victorious in the hustings.
Vijay and TVK have many firsts to their credit and the the party founder will be the first person from a minority religion -Christianity- to helm the state.
While Vijay won from both Perambur and Tiruchirappalli East constituencies, his party has netted 89 seats and was leading in 18 more and is on course to become the single largest party in the 234-member House. Elections were held on April 23 and the counting of votes done on Monday.
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Perhaps the biggest shock was CM Stalin being defeated by a margin of 8,795 votes in his Kolathur constituency by little known V S Babu, who was formerly with the DMK and an ex-MLA. More than 10 ministers including Geetha Jeevan and Ma Subramanian were defeated. Stalin had last tasted defeat in 1991.
Even Deputy CM Udhayanidhi's prospects appeared dim for a while as he trailed behind the TVK nominee in Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni. Eventually, he won.
As soon as it became clear that TVK was inching towards an unprecedented, huge win in its debut polls, party workers and supporters gathered in front of party office at Panaiyur here and burst firecrackers and distributed sweets.
Also, Vijay's victory and often-repeated assurance of share in power to like-minded parties is expected to open a new chapter in the history of the state and TVK supporters expect the Congress (5), IUML (2), Left parties (4), VCK (2) and PMK (5) as well to offer support and have a share in power. Together such parties have won or leading in a total of 18 seats. TVK needs 118 seats to form government.
This will the first time in Tamil Nadu that a party will assume power a little over two years after its founding. TVK has clocked nearly 35 per cent (34.92) vote share in its debut polls.
The TVK was launched in February 2024.
While the DMK has won 48 seats and is leading in 12 constituencies (24.20 per cent voteshare), AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami won by a record margin of 98,110 votes in his home segment of Edapadi in Salem district. The AIADMK has won 41 seats and is leading in six segments (21.25 per cent voteshare).
While the party's seniors, including C Ve Shanmugam and SP Velumani won hands down, many others, such as former minister P Thangamani, suffered shock defeats.
Interestingly, the TVK made heavy inroads in the AIADMK's bastion, western Tamil Nadu that includes Coimbatore, even as DMK emerged victorious in some seats.
DMK President and outgoing Chief Minister Stalin took the defeat in his stride and said that his party bowed and accepted the people's verdict.
He said he was truthful to all sections of people and had acted as per his conscience and also worked beyond his capacity for people's welfare.
He asserted that his party, which worked well as the ruling party would from now on work well as the main opposition party. Stalin said in his public life, he had seen lot of victories and defeats as well and DMK's political journey will continue without any slackness.
He said ideology is important rather than victories and defeats alone.
AIADMK general secretary Palaniswami said that he accepts the people's verdict in the elections.
In a statement here, he said, "I express my gratitude to all the people, who rose up and performed their democratic duty in the assembly elections".
Stating that the people were judges here, he said, "Therefore, I wholeheartedly accept the decision given by the people".
He said, "We will soon recover from this setback."
Meanwhile, scores of tinsel town names, including 'superstar' Rajinikanth greeted Vijay on his poll show.
National award winner Dhanush, musician Anirudh Ravichander and many others extended their greetings.
Interestingly, among the TVK winners was actor-director Srinath, who defeated state minister P Geetha Jeevan in Thoothukudi.