Setback for DMDK as councillor shifts to DMK

Chennai, Feb 21 (UNI) Actor Vijayakanth's Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), which sprang a surprise, winning five wards in the Chennai Corporation, suffered a setback today when one of them joined the ruling DMK.

P Sardar, elected from the 27th ward, today quit the party and joined the DMK in the presence of its President and Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, a DMK release here said.

Only yesterday, Mr Vijayakanth had congratulated the winning candidates, including Mr Sardar, stating the party had opened its account in the Chennai Corporation council, in its maiden contest.

While the DMDK captured five wards, all in north Chennai, the Bharatiya Janata Party won two wards and CPI(M), which went on its own, bagged one. The opposition AIADMK and MDMK boycotted the repoll.

The DMK-led DPA swept the repoll, held to 67 wards, with DMK alone winning 32, followed by Congress-16, Pattali Makkal Katchi-9 and Dalit Panthers of India-2.

The Corporation council is scheduled to meet on March one, when indirect election to the Mayor's post would be held. Ma Subramanian, who stepped down on the directive of Mr Karunanidhi after Madras High court ordered repoll to 99 wards, is likely to be re-elected Mayor.

The High Court had ordered repoll on a batch of petitions filed by the opposition AIADMK and other parties on the ground that the October last elections were marred by large scale violence.

Elections were, however, held in 67 wards only as in other wards, the candidates, including Mr Subramanian, were elected unopposed.

UNI