Tamil Nadu - Chennai   

DMK retains Tambaram seat

K. Manikandan

Of 5,61,889 votes polled, S.R. Raja of the DMK got 2,69,717

BASKING IN GLORY: DMK candidate S.R. Raja (centre with shawl) who was elected from Tambaram Assembly constituency, gives the thumbs up sign to his supporters after the election results on Thursday. — PHOTO: M. KARUNAKARAN

TAMBARAM : S.R. Raja of the DMK emerged victorious from Tambaram with a convincing margin of close to 49,000 votes. Partymen said the victory only reinforced the belief that the second largest Assembly constituency is their stronghold — the party has retained Tambaram for the third consecutive time.

Of 5,61,889 votes, (including 167 postal ballots) polled, Mr. Raja got 2,69,717 votes. Mr. Somu of the MDMK got 2,20,965 votes.

As in many other parts of Tamil Nadu, the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam garnered a sizable chunk of the votes with its candidate K. Dharma getting 48,522 votes. V.R. Sivaraman of the Bharatiya Janata Party got 13,598 votes, official sources said.

While Mr. Raja's victory margin is high, but is nothing compared to the lead of 1,13,959 votes when M.V. Vaidyalingam trounced K.B. Madhavan of the Congress in 1996. Counting at the Madras Christian College began at 8 a.m. and after about eight rounds, Mr. Raja's lead was over 16,000 votes. It took a long while for the officials to declare the results as all the 21 rounds of counting of 5.61 lakh votes had to be completed.

The policemen did not allow media persons into the counting hall except for a few minutes when they were accompanied by some policemen. Later they were asked to stay in a hall and assured of regular updates.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

A victory for democratic forces, says DPA
DMK men celebrate in style
City springs a surprise; seven each for rival fronts
Lab standards under the scanner
Forum hails change in government
People pin their hopes on the new government
First-time voters look into the future with hope
The reactions on the street
"We have the honour of forming a coalition"
Close contests in Harbour, Perambur
DMK retains Tambaram seat
Disappointed, but not dejected
An Independent who stood to gain
Vijayakant party's impressive show
The Hindu MetroPlus Food Guide released
Valarmathi defeated by DMK's Anbarasan in Alandur
Technology alone "can bridge gap between rich and poor"
Happy to churn out Chief Ministers
Dharmendra as brand ambassador
Celebration time
Sweet victory
Around the City
In Chennai Today

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu