THE people of Tamil Nadu resoundingly rejected BJP and its game plan to piggyback on the AIADMK to get a foothold in the state in the assembly elections. The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led Secular Progressive Alliance won with a thumping majority of 159 seats of  the total 234 while the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK)-led front was limited to 75 seats of which 65 were bagged by the AIADMK.

The elections were held on April 8 and the votes were counted on May 2 amid Covid-19 lockdown. The results showed that Tamil Nadu has expressed aversion and anger on the inglorious ten-year-rule of the AIADMK which acted subservient to the BJP at the centre.

Since the sudden demise of the AIADMK supremo, J Jayalalitha in December 2016, her successors have pledged loyalty to the BJP-led central government in order to cling to power and during the last four years they were party to all the anti-people actions of the central government. Their vote in favour of the three farms bills was the last straw that broke the renegade that went against the interests of Tamil Nadu.

As part of the Secular Progressive Alliance, the CPI(M), and the CPI contested for six seats each and won two seats each. While CPI(M) candidate, VP Nagai Mali won in Keezhvelur with a margin of 16,985 votes, M Chinnadurai won in Gandharvakottai with a margin of 12,721 votes. K Marimuthu and T Ramachandran from the CPI won in Thiruthuraipoondi (SC seat) and in Thali respectively. The others victorious in the alliance include Congress, which won 18 seats, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) with four seats each, Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK) with two seats and Tamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi (TVK) and Kongunadu Makkal Desia Katchi (KMDK) won one seat each.

The DMK president, M K Stalin will be sworn in as the Chief Minister on May 7 in a simple ceremony at Raj Bhavan, Chennaikeeping in view of the severe financial crunch, the new government has to bear while they fight the second wave of Covid-19.

The CPI(M) state committee thanked the people for making this regime change in a resolute manner and extended its support to the new government as it gears up to face the pandemic and severe economic crisis. It has also advised the government to undertake steps with the active support of the people to uplift their livelihood which is being threatened in recent times due to pandemic.