BJP’s lone victory in Chennai comes as a surprise amid the DMK’s massive triumph in Tamil Nadu’s urban local body elections.
Uma Anandhan (66), who ran in ward 134 in the Kodambakkam zone’s West Mambalam region, defeated the Congress candidate by more than 2,000 votes.
Despite the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) securing a landslide victory by taking all 21 corporations and the lion’s share of seats in municipalities and town panchayats, the BJP surprised everyone by gaining a ward in the Chennai Corporation. The results of the state urban local body polls, which were held across the state on February 19, were announced on Tuesday.
Uma Anandhan (66), who ran in ward 134 in the Kodambakkam zone’s West Mambalam region, defeated the Congress candidate by more than 2,000 votes. Uma had already caused a stir when she stated in an interview four years ago that she is a supporter of Nathuram Godse. The video went viral on social media, with many people denouncing her for her comments.
“Everyone is aware of the impact the rains had on the population. Several streets were flooded, including Kuppiah Chetty Street, Subba Reddy Street, and Gandhi Street. In localities like Jubliee Road and Thambiah Road, at least 500 ground floor houses remain vacant. During the rainy season, sewage water mixes with stagnant rainwater and seeps into people’s homes. The unsanitary environment also encourages mosquito breeding, increasing the risk of Filaria. West Mambalam, I’m afraid, will become the next Kumbakonam. “The roads are not properly laid out, and I must fix these difficulties,” she explained.
In response to the anti-Uma efforts, Uma said she is used to the vitriol she encounters and praised her opponents for indirectly campaigning for her.
“The counting procedure for my ward began after 3 p.m., but they (opponents) were claiming that I had lost the election much earlier.” “Who’s the last one to laugh now?” she enquired.
Uma further expressed her optimism that the current administration will assist her in implementing the numerous social projects she wishes to adopt in her ward, stating that “people’s wellbeing is beyond political disagreements.”
The BJP gained 22 wards across several corporations, 56 seats in municipalities, and 230 seats in town panchayats in the recently concluded elections. In terms of percentages, the BJP has won 1.6 percent of corporate wards, 1.46 percent of municipal wards, and 3.02 percent of town panchayat wards.
In many districts, the state’s largest Opposition party, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, came in second place. Allies of the DMK, such as the Congress, the Viduthalai Siruthaigal Katchi (VCK), and the Left parties CPI and CPI(M), won a considerable number of seats.
Other candidates, such as TTV Dhinakaran’s Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, which won 66 wards in town panchayats, 33 in municipalities, and three in corporations, and Pattali Makkal Katchi, which won 73 wards in town panchayats, 48 in municipalities, and five in corporations, also performed well.
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