May 19, 2016
The December floods in Chennai had certainly dented the AIADMK’s sitting Ministers with B Valarmathi (Thousand Lights) and S Gokula Indira (Annanagar) losing the polls.
Also losing the elections were AIADMK heavyweights and Minister Natham R Viswanathan (Athoor) and R Vaithilingam (Orathanadu), who were considered 3 and 4 in the State Cabinet.
The most hyped party leader Vijayakanth (DMDK), who led the PWF front, lost in Ulundurpet constituency where he secured only third position.
Another noted leader and cast-based Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) Chief Minister candidate and sitting Lok Sabha MP Anbumani Ramadoss lost in Pennagaram in Dharmapuri district
Likewise, Tamil Nadu BJP president Tamilisai Soundarajan and party state vice president Vanathi Srinivasan too lost the husting in Virugambakkam and Coimbatore south respectively.
Actor Sarathkumar, who contested in AIADMK symbol, also lost in Tiruchandur constituency.
The prominent winners apart from Jayalalithaa and Karunanidhi are the two-time CM O Panneerselvam who won from Bodinayakanur.
It was success for DMK heavyweights like Karunanidhi’s son and party Treasurer M K Stalin (Kolathur), E V Velu (Tiruvannamalai), Duraimurugan (Katpadi), K N Nehru (Trichy), M R K Panneerselvam (Kurinjipadi) and K Ponmudy (Tirukovilur) who won over their respective AIADMK rivals.