Kongu region continues to remain a citadel of AIADMK

A traditional stronghold of the AIADMK, the region has once again stood rock solid in its support to the party by handing over considerable wins, even though the ruling party fared poorly in other parts of the state.

Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami can take solace in the fact that the AIADMK made great strides in most of the districts in the Kongu region. This victory means much more as the AIADMK faced humiliating defeat in the Parliamentary polls, when the DMK made inroads with a clean sweep in this part of the state.

Then the change of loyalty came after AIADMK won 41 out of 47 Assembly seats in 2016 Assembly polls under the leadership of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa.

Now, the comeback of AIADMK proves that the voters in western Tamil Nadu have begun to repose faith on the leadership of Palaniswami. His multiple visits and significant infrastructure projects being undertaken in the region has boosted the prospects of the AIADMK among the people.

In Coimbatore, the ruling party has won 10 out of the 17 district panchayat wards and its ally BJP two, while leaving only five to the DMK. Similarly, in Tirupur district, the AIADMK has won 13 of the 17 wards while the DMK won 3 and its ally Congress 1.

Salem, the home district of the Chief Minister too gave a decisive majority to the AIADMK. The party won 18 out of the total 29 district panchayat wards, while its allies PMK bagged 4 and DMDK 1. The DMK has managed to secure a win in just five wards. In Yercaud, results were held back due to recounting process over some confusion.

The CM’s district has also established a clear majority for AIADMK in the panchayat union councilor by winning 131 seats, while DMK won only 76 seats. In Erode district, the voters handed over a victory in 14 district panchayat wards to AIADMK and its ally PMK bagged one. The DMK which contested in almost all the 17 wards had to be contend with a win in just four wards.

In Namakkal, AIADMK won in 12 out of the 17 district panchayat wards, while DMK one and another by an independent. In Dharmapuri, AIADMK won 6 district panchayat wards while its allies PMK three and DMDK one. The DMK secured seven wards and its ally VCK one.

If at all, the ruling party has registered a stupendous performance, the credits should go to the handful of Ministers holding coveted portfolios from the Kongu belt, who managed to keep their flock together.  Indeed, the AIADMK has managed to stop DMK from gaining a foothold in the Western region, said an AIADMK functionary.

While disappointment was in store for DMK in most of the districts in the Western region, the party proved its huge dominance in The Nilgiris alone.  The party managed to secure clean sweep by winning four out of the six district panchayat wards and one by its ally CPI. AIADMK turned out to be a loner winning just one ward.

Similarly, the DMK won 12 district panchayat wards and its ally CPI three as against 7 by AIADMK and its ally PMK one in the Krishnagiri district.