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The Tamil Nadu results may be shocking for some

To all those who were expecting the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam alliance to do well (some even predicted a sweep), the Tamil Nadu results came as a big surprise. What went in favour of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam alliance at the last minute is anybody's guess.

Anna Arivalayam, the DMK party office was overcrowded with party workers from the moment counting started and they sensed victory.

Of the 39 seats in Tamil Nadu, the DMK is set to win 18 seats and will be the third largest alliance partner in the United Progressive Alliance.

Text: Shobha Warrier  Photographs: Sreeram Selvaraj

'We knew Kalaignar would win'

All the party workers were in the mood to celebrate. Women were seen dancing and men shouting at the top of their voice. "We knew Kalaignar (meaning 'scholar' in Tamil, denoting DMK chief Karunandihi) would win. Who else has given free colour TV to the people? Who has given rice for Re 1? It is the victory of his governance," Varada grinned and said while dancing.

A deserted AIADMK party office

In comparison to Anna Arivalayam, the AIADMK party office was comparatively deserted. No party worker was in a mood to talk. Some people just grumbled that polls were rigged.

AIADMK, Third Front have become non-entities

AIADMK supremo J Jayalalitha said on Friday, that if the poll results came out the way I expect, I will be in Delhi. The results have definitely come as a rude shock to her. Nobody expected the AIADMK alliance to fare so badly. With just 11 seats in her kitty, Jayalalitha and also the Third Front have become non-entities now.

A festive look at Karuna's residence

To a sharp contrast, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi's residence at Gopalapuram was crowded with people from the media and party workers. The festive look was accentuated by party members bursting crackers from the morning.

Everything looks bleak for BJP right now

The BJP party office in Chennai, Kamalalayam, was clear of anyone anywhere. With the party not opening its account in the state and the state party president L Ganeshan not doing well in Chennai South, everything looked bleak for the BJP right now.

A dismal CPI-M

The Communist Party of India-Marxist office also was no different. Not a single office bearer was in sight. The party had gone with the AIADMK alliance and not only the alliance but the Left parties also fared badly. Even the Communist Party of India candidate from Chennai North, D.Pandian, who was expected to win, is trailing behind the DMK candidate T K S Elangovan.

An unforgettable defeat for Vaiko

For Vaiko's Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, the 2009 Lok Sabha elections have been disastrous. He who spoke as if only the people of Sri Lanka and the LTTE (and not those of Tamil Nadu) existed for him lost from the Virudhunagar constituency.

Naturally, the party is terribly disappointed. The doors of the party office remain closed. The only consolation for the party was Ganeshamurthi's lead over congress's EVKS Elangovan in Erode.