DMK- led DPA set to take power, 144 seats ahead

Chennai, May 11: The DMK-led Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA) is all set to capture power in Tamil Nadu as the front established leads in as many as 144 seats with the counting of the votes polled in the May eight assembly elections for 234 seats drawing to a close.

The ruling AIADMK led front, which was leading in at least 80 seats, is on the way out, but not before giving a stiff fight to the six-party DPA.

The DMK, contesting from 129 seats on its own, is unlikely to secure a majority on its own to form the government. The scenario would change the face of the state politics as the results would either lead to DMK form a government with the support of its allies or head a coalition government.

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

Though the allies have not expressed their wish to share power, Mr Karunanidhi, during the electioneering had made it clear that the party was not averse to sharing power with its 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 out.

The AIADMK fielded candidates in 182 seats, allocating 35 seats to the Marumalarchi DMK (MDMK) which renewed its alliance with it coming out of the DMK led DPA, nine to the Dalit Panthers of India(DPI) and the remaining to the minor allies.

As the trends started trickling in, DMK volunteers started thronging 'Anna Arivalyam', the party headquarters and celebrations began for the party's victory. They burst crackers and distributed sweets, though the final outcome of one of the toughest electoral battles was yet to fully emerge.

In contrast, the Poes Garden area, where Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's residence is located, wore a deserted look as the party supremo was away at her farm house in Sirudhavur on the East Coast road.

UNI