DMK front gets early leads in 100 seats in TN

Chennai, May 11: The DMK-led Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA) established early leads in at least 100 seats and the ruling AIADMK in around 45 seats in the battle to capture power in Tamil Nadu as trends started pouring in from different parts of the state.

Minutes after the counting began at 0800 hrs of votes polled on May eight for the 234 Assembly seats, the trends started trickling in amid anxiety in both DMK and AIADMK headquarters.

Initial trends indicated that the six-party DPA is all set to wrest power from the AIADMK, though it might not be a big victory for the front.

The DMK, contesting from 129 seats on its own, is unlikely to secure a majority, which would result in either the DMK forming a government with allies support or heading a coalition.

The DMK allocated 48 seats to the Congress, 31 to the PMK and 13 to CPI(M), 10 to CPI and the remaining to minor allies.

Initial reports suggested that the AIADMK was very much in the race, but as trends started pouring in, it became clear that the party was losing power.

The AIADMK is contesting from 182 seats, having allocated 35 seats to the Marumalarchi DMK (MDMK), nine to the Dalit Panthers of India and the remaining to the minor allies.

UNI