Chennai: The 2019 results of the Lok Sabha poll in the state has sprung a few surprises. The political life of three leaders - one each from BJP, PMK and AIADMK - would be at stake as they faced humiliating defeat in the poll.
Former Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha and AIADMK leader M. Thambidurai suffered a humiliating defeat in Karur LS constituency. Congress candidate S. Jothimani elected to Parliament from the constituency by a margin of over 4.2 lakh votes. The AIADMK veteran polled 2,75,151 votes while Jothimani polled 6,95,697 votes.
Thambidurai, who runs several educational institutions, was seeking re-election from Karur for a third consecutive time. He was the MP from the constituency in 2009 and 2014. Congress woman Jothimani, contested on behalf of the DMK-led alliance in Tamil Nadu. She had unsuccessfully contested in the 2014 Lok Sabha Elections from Karur, losing to Thambidurai.
In another similar defeat Dr Anbumani Ramadoss, PMK MP and son of party's founder leader Dr S Ramadoss, lost to first timer DMK's DNV Senthilkumar in Dharmapuri LS Poll. Anbumani Ramadoss, was banking on the Vanniyar votebank in the Vanniyar stronghold. He lost by a margin of over 70,000 votes, with Senthilkumar received over 5.74 lakh votes. Dharmapuri witnessed a tri-cornered contest this election. The sitting MP Anbumani Ramadoss sought a re-election, and was the candidate for the AIADMK-led alliance. Senthilkumar is the grandson of DN Vadivelu, who played a major role in making Dharmapuri a separate district. The family is well known in the district. The TTV Dhinakaran's AMMK candidate and former state minister Palaniappan came third in poll. PMK, Anbumani and Ramadoss were trolled on the social media for aligning with AIADMK led front to face the poll. The party leaders recently condemned the AIADMK for implementing various 'anti-people' policies.In another big blow, former Union Minister and BJP leader Pon Radhakrishnan was defeated by Congress' H Vasanthakumar in election to Kanniyakumari LS poll. The BJP had hoped to see the 'lotus bloom' in the state. However, it faced a huge set back in state. Kanniyakumari saw Congress' H Vasanthakumar defeat Union Minister of State Pon Radhakrishnan by 2.59 lakh votes.
