Chennai, Feb 22 (BPNS)

The DMK led alliance has swept the urban local body elections of Tamil Nadu when 75 % of the results were declared. The urban polls are held after a gap of eleven years in the state and the win of the DMK is considered as a stamp of approval for the nine-month-old Stalin government in the state.

The dismal performance of the AIADMK was reflected with the party losing its bastions and the DMK winning several seats in Western Tamil Nadu including Coimbatore, Erode, and Salem. in Edappadi, the home constituency of former Chief Minister, Edappadi K.Palaniswami, AIADMK candidate lost the polls to the DMK. 

Palaniswami’s own ward no 23 in Salem municipal corporation was also wrested by the DMK leading to a major loss of face for the former Chief Minister who is also the leader of opposition in Tamil Nadu.

According to the state election commission till 3 pm the DMK alliance won 494 seats in Corporations, 2021 in Municipalities, and 4619 seats in town panchayats.

The AIADMK on the other hand won only 81 wards in corporations, 511 in Municipalities, and 1188 seats in town panchayats.

The BJP which contested alone won 255 wards including 7 in corporations. The saffron party has won 113 seats in Municipalities and  135 seats in town panchayats by contesting alone.

Five candidates supported by Vijay Makkal Iyyakam, the fans association of Superstar Vijay won in Corporation wards including 3 in Chennai.

The transgender candidate, R. Ganga of the DMK won from the Vellore Municipal corporation with a margin of 15 votes. This is the first time a transgender candidate has won from the DMK in Urban local body polls.

Three candidates including an AIADMK candidate got only zero votes in Karambukudi panchayat in Pudukottai district even though all three had votes in the same constituency and preferred not to vote for them.