Salem: The ruling AIADMK scored its fourth successive by-poll win in this term with its candidate P Saroja winning by a massive margin of 78,116 votes against the DMK’s V Maran. Saroja, widow of AIADMK legislator C Perumal, whose death caused the by-poll, secured 1,42,771 votes while Maran was way behind with 64,655 votes.
Significantly, 4,431 voters opted for ‘None of the Above’ (NOTA), introduced in the state for the first time in this December 4 election that saw a record 89.24 per cent voter turnout.
As the AIADMK supporters celebrated even midway because Saroja led right from the first round in the 12-round counting that began early Sunday, party general secretary and chief minister J. Jayalalithaa thanked the Yercaud voters for reposing faith in her administration through such a thumping verdict.
“The voters of Yercaud have acknowledged and recognised that the fruits of the two-and-a-half years of AIADMK government’s welfare schemes have reached the people”, a visibly elated CM, surrounded by beaming party supporters, told reporters at her Poes Garden residence.
There was gloom in the DMK camp as the party lost poorly despite vigorous campaign by senior leaders, including M K Stalin, who camped in Yercaud for almost four days.
The AIADMK has won all the by-polls since dethroning DMK in 2011 — Tiruchy (West), Sankarankoil (SC) and Puthukottai, plus Yercaud now.
Next: 2 leaves blossom in Yercaud
2 leaves blossom in Yercaud
Salem: Sensing victory as early as the 12th round of counting when AIADMK’s P Saroja was leading by about 40,000 votes, the party cadres became jubilant and started to celebrate the anticipated victory by bursting crackers, distributing sweets and dancing on the roads.
Soon as the 21-round of counting got over with the declaration that the AIADMK had won, the party cadres heightened their celebration with beating of drums and dancing on the road.
State Highways Minister Edappadi K Palanisamy himself distributed sweets, and later the winning team garlanded the ‘Anna’ statue at the old bus stand. Returning Officer T Sabapathy issued the certificate to the winning candidate.
There was heavy security posted on the HasthÂampatty–Yercaud road which was also blocked in view of the couÂnting. All who were allowed entry did so only after a thorough check.
The celebration for one side had meant dismay for DMK. As the trend was declining for DMK, the party cadres wore a disappointed look, including V Maran, the party candidate. Soon as the results were out, the DMK party cadres went their way silently.
P Saroja heaped praises on the AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa and expressed her gratitude for the people. There were some tense moments in the area where food was served, due to shortage of food packets for the party members and staff on counÂting duty. The issÂued was soon addreÂssed. Around 500 policemen were posted for the duty, police said.
Next: NOTA is second runner-up
NOTA is second runner-up
Salem: ‘NOTA’ has emerged the second runner-up ‘candidate’, next to DMK, with 4,431 votes in its pocket in the Yercaud by-poll results released on SunÂday. This is the first time in Tamil Nadu that the ‘None Of The Above (NOÂTA)’ option button was introduced in the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
When the counting of votes began at 8 am, NOTA had a steady vote bank all through the 21 rounds of counting. The lowest figure was 159 votes in the sixth round while the highest was 316 in the 19th round. At the end of the day, ‘None Of The Above garnered 4,431 votes, while all nine independent candidates put together garnered a mere 2,548 votes.
“Had we been allowed to campaign vigorously, we would have garnered at least 25,000 votes for NOTA,” says a NOTA promoter R GopalaÂkrishÂnan, president of an assÂocÂiation of farmers who were affected by lanÂd acqÂuisition for NH’s.
“We are determined to campaign statewide for NOTA in the coming parliamentary election, witÂh the support of various farmers associations in the state,” he said.
Madurai Government Law College student, A Nandini, who was camÂpaiÂÂgning in the hilly region for NOTA, said thÂat the brief four-day peÂÂÂriod had created an amÂoÂunt of awareness aÂmÂong people. “I feel that those against liquor saÂle in the state have chÂoÂsen this option,” she says.
