Tamil Nadu: DMK ahead, ally Cong fares badly

The ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam  appeared to be doing well in the Lok Sabha elections in Tamil Nadu, establishing early leads in most of the 21 seats it contested.

But, its key ally Congress was fairing badly while the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-led front was ahead in nine constituencies, as per latest trends.

Of the 36 constituencies for which trends are available, the DMK front was ahead in 27 while the AIADMK and its allies had established early leads in nine seats.

In neighbouring Puducherry, Union minister and Congress candidate V Narayanasamy had established a lead of around 38,500 votes over his nearest Pattali Makkal Katchi rival M Ramadoss.

The DMK's arch rival AIADMK seems to be gaining at the expense of the Congress, whose prominent leaders including Union Home Minister P Chidambaram from Sivaganga, his cabinet colleagues Manishankar Aiyar from Mayiladuthurai and E V K S Elangovan from Erode were trailing.

The Congress, which had ten seats in the outgoing Lok Sabha and contested 16 seats this time, was leading only in Theni, Cuddalore, Dindigul and Arani.

Notable among the DMK candidates doing well were Chief Minister M Karunanidhi son M K Azhagiri, leading by around 62,000 votes against CPI-M rival P Mohan in Madurai, and Union ministers T R Baalu (Sriperumbudur) and A Raja (Nilgiris).

The DMK's ally Viduthalai Chiruthaikal Katchi leader Thol Tirumavalavan was ahead in

Chidambaram by 18,000 votes against E Ponnusamy of the PMK.

Marumalarchi DMK leader Vaiko was trailing behind Congress rival Manik Tagore by 4,100 votes in Virudhunagar.