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Karunanidhi to be Chief Minister for fifth time

Suresh Nambath with Bureau reports

AIADMK, with 61 seats, will be a strong Opposition in the Assembly

BACK AT THE HELM: DMK president M. Karunanidhi who is set to become Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for the fifth time, waves to supporters at the party headquarters in Chennai on Thursday. — Photo: M. Vedhan

Suresh Nambath

with Bureau reports

CHENNAI: In a vote for change, the Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA) led by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam has obtained a comfortable majority in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections winning 163 of the 234 seats. DMK president M. Karunanidhi is set to become Chief Minister for the fifth time with his party totalling 96 seats, 22 short of a simple majority.

In Pondicherry, the Congress-DMK alliance won 20 of the 30 seats in the Territorial Assembly.

The contests in Tamil Nadu were close, and only 4.75 percentage points separated the two fronts. According to provisional figures, the DPA had a vote share of 44.58 per cent, and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK)-led front 39.83 per cent. In three constituencies, the margin was less than 100. The elections were held on May 8.

"Our alliance boat could only sail so far in the money-storm that hit [the State]," Mr.Karunanidhi told presspersons on Thursday afternoon after the trends firmed up. The DMK would decide on government formation after discussions with the allies, he added.

The Congress, which won 34 seats, is considering joining the government. The Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) with 18 seats, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) with nine, and the Communist Party of India with six are ready to support a DMK government from outside. All the allies have submitted letters supporting the DMK to Governor Surjit Singh Barnala.

Mr. Karunanidhi will stake his claim to form the government on Friday after the DMK Legislature Party meeting. The swearing-in is to be held at the Nehru indoor stadium here at 10 a.m. on Saturday.

"I have done my best"

Soon after the results were declared, Chief Minister and AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa sent in her resignation to the Governor. In a statement, she said: "I accept the verdict of the people." While thanking those who voted for her alliance, she added: "I have no regrets as I demit office. I have done my best for the people of Tamil Nadu."

Although it lost the election, the AIADMK will have a strong presence in the Assembly — it has won 61 seats. Twelve of the 21 Ministers who contested the election won. The party's main ally, the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam headed by Vaiko won six seats and another ally, the Dalit Panthers, two.

The new entrant in Tamil Nadu politics, Desiya Murpokku Dravidar Kazhagam led by actor Vijayakant, garnered 8.33 per cent votes. But only Mr. Vijayakant won a seat: in Vridhachalam.

A surprise was the victory of a CPI(M) rebel, T. Ramachandran, in Thalli. He defeated the official CPI candidate Nagaraja Reddy.

In his post-victory press conference, Mr. Karunanidhi said the ruling and Opposition parties could cooperate on the marriage scheme for poor women and make their mutual antagonism, which was "not witnessed in other States," a thing of the past.

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