Tamil Nadu Local Body Election Results: DMK, allies defeat ruling AIADMK

Chennai, Jan 02: The opposition DMK and its allies emerged winners, relegating the AIADMK combine to the second spot.

The runner-up finish by a ruling party in localbody polls is seen as a setback, but AIADMK, which came a close second overall, put up a brave face asserting the results showed the party was regaining the "love and support" of the people after being routed in Lok Sabha polls eight months ago.

The DMK said it has posted a "massive victory," despite the ruling party's alleged misuse of power and results showed the people's 'hate' for the AIADMK.

The elections for the rural local bodies were held in two phases between Dec 27 and 30, barring the nine newly carved ones in line with the apex court's order.

The election was conducted in rural Tamil Nadu to elect 655 district ward panchayat members, 6,471 panchayat union ward members, 12,524 village panchayat presidents, and 99,324 village panchayat ward members.

The first phase saw polling of 76.19 per cent, and the second phase saw 77.73 per cent, according to the Tamil Nadu State Election Commission (TNSEC).