Let me take you back to 2014. The Amma (Jayalalithaa) wave swept across Tamil Nadu with the AIADMK winning 37 of the 40 seats for the Lok Sabha elections. Today, the tables have turned, quite literally. This time it is DMK-Congress alliance which is clearly winning in more than 35 seats.
This victory is important as it was the first election under the complete leadership of DMK President M K Stalin, son of the veteran leader Karunanidhi.
Amma’s Image Fades, Stalin Consolidates
But when it comes to bypolls, DMK definitely hoped to win more than this. Along with the parliamentary elections, bypolls to 22 constituencies were also conducted. If DMK had managed to win at least 21 seats, only then could the party have overthrown the AIADMK Government. Though DMK is in the lead, AIADMK has a comfortable number of seats to continue the term.
Meanwhile, Kamal Haasan's Makkal Needhi Maiam, which made its debut this elections, has put up a spirited fight. Coming third in many seats, right after the Dravidian parties, MNM has performed well. AMMK Founder TTV Dhinakaran was expected to cut into the AIADMK vote share but his influence in the bypolls has not been very significant.
Two things are clear; AIADMK can no longer garner votes using the Amma image and DMK’s Stalin is making it clear he is here to stay.
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