DMK, allies win 45 of 67 wards in Chennai corpn repoll

Chennai, Feb 20 (UNI) The DMK-led Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA) today won as many as 45 of 67 wards in the Chennai City Corporation repolls, which were held on February 18 following a Madras High Court order in the wake of alleged largescale violence in the elction held in October last year.

In all, the High Court had ordered repoll in 98 wards and bypoll was also held in two wards following the resignation of Opposition AIADMK councillors.

However, 33 candidates, including former Mayor Ma.Subramaniam, were declared elected unopposed and repoll was held to 67 wards, of which results to 45 wards have been declared so far.

While the DMK won 23, its allies the Congress bagged 11 seats, followed by Pattali Makkal Katchi (seven) and Dalit Panthers of India (one).

Another ally, the CPI(M), which went alone in the repoll, won from one ward, while the BJP and Desiya Murpokku Dravidar Kazhagam of actor-turned-politician Vijayakanth also won one ward each.

The repoll was conducted after the opposition AIADMK, which boycotted these polls, moved the High Court seeking fresh elections in all 155 wards in the city alleging largescale violence and malpractices in the October 13 polls to the Chennai Corporation.

After the High Court gave a split verdict, 98 councillors of the DMK-led DPA, including Mayor Subramaniam, resigned their seats on the advice of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President M Karunanidhi.

UNI