The Hindu Business Line : DMK-led front sweeps polls in TN, Pondy

The DMK President, Mr M. Karunanidhi, with Mr Dayanidhi Maran, son of late Murasoli Maran at a press conference in Chennai on Thursday. Mr Dayanidhi Maran has been elected from the Central Chennai constituency. — Bijoy Ghosh

Chennai , May 13

THE DMK-led Democratic Progressive Alliance on Thursday swept the Lok Sabha elections in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry, winning all the 40 seats, riding on the back of a strong double anti-incumbency - against the State Government and the Centre.

The DMK contested 15 seats in all, including three seats in Chennai; Congress (I) 10; PMK six; MDMK four; CPI (M) and CPI two each; and IUML one.

The AIADMK-BJP combine drew a blank. The AIADMK had contested 33 seats and the BJP seven.

Prominent among the winners are Mr T.R. Baalu, former Union Environment Minister in the NDA Government, from South Chennai; Mr Mani Shanker Aiyar of the Congress (I) from Mayiladuthurai; Mr P. Chidambaram, former Union Finance Minister, from Sivaganga; Mr R. Prabhu, former Union Minister, from Nilgiris; and Mr Dayanidhi Maran, son of the late Murasoli Maran, who contested from Central Chennai constituency, which was represented by Murasoli Maran.

Throughout the campaign, the DMK-led alliance highlighted issues such as water scarcity in Chennai and most other parts of the State, the plight of agriculturists in the Cauvery delta region caused by successive years of drought, reform measures of the Jayalalithaa Government and its action against Government employees who went on strike.

Ms Jayalalithaa, who was the lone campaigner for her party, tried to highlight the fact that the Lok Sabha elections were not a referendum on her Government's performance, and hence there was no place for local issues in the campaign.

On the other hand, the thrust of her campaign was the foreign origin of the Congress (I) President, Ms Sonia Gandhi, and whether she should govern the country or whether a veteran like Mr A.B. Vajpayee should be the Prime Minister.

With the AIADMK-BJP alliance being completely routed in the State, demands for Ms Jayalalithaa's resignation as well as the dismissal of her Government are bound to be made by her opponents.

In the 13th Lok Sabha, when the DMK, BJP, PMK and MDMK were allies in the NDA, the DMK had 12 seats, BJP four, PMK five and MDMK four. The AIADMK had 11 members, Congress (I) three and CPI (M) one.

In a reaction from trade to the results, the Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce & Industry, in a statement, said the results only reflect the "deep resentment of all sections of the people in the State."

The Chamber's President, Mr S. Rethinavelu, regretted that the Tamil Nadu Government had given up the practice of having consultations with the trade and industry to sort out problems.

"Even highly justifiable demands of trade and industry are considered, much less conceded."

He said, "No opportunity was given to meet the Chief Minister in person to vent genuine grievances for redress. Getting an audience with the Chief Minister itself is considered as a great achievement in Tamil Nadu. With the result, the plights and predicaments of various sections of the people in the State escaped the attention of the Chief Minister."