TTV Dhinakaran wins RK Nagar bypoll with a huge margin

The results of the R K Nagar byelection have not only shattered the hopes of AIADMK leaders but sowed seeds of uncertainty among the rank and file of the party.

With less than 1% vote share, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) failed to leave a mark on the RK Nagar bypoll. So poor was the national party's performance that even NOTA (None of the Above) option polled higher number of votes than the BJP. BJP had fielded Karu Nagarajan, the party's state unit secretary, as its candidate for the bypoll.

Chennai: TTV Dhinakaran's supporters celebrate after his victory in #RKNagarByPoll pic.twitter.com/G4TTe4a7fg

& mdash; ANI (@ANI) December 24, 2017

Dhinakaran won the RK Nagar byelection by a margin of 40,707 votes, defeating his nearest rival E Madhusudhanan of the AIADMK. Dhinakaran got 89,013 votes while Madhusudhanan polled 48,306 votes. DMK candidate N Maruthu Ganesh got only 24,651 votes and lost his deposit.

Of the total, 1,76,890 counted, he has polled 89,013 votes.

. He has secured 86,472 votes so far against Madhusudhanan's 47,115 votes.

. Final six EVMs remain before Dhinakaran's victory is officially announced.

Dhinakaran wins round 17 as well with a margin of 1,610 votes.

Two-and-a-half rounds remain.

Dhinakaran takes round 16 too with a margin of 1,728 votes.

Dhinakaran has secured 72,413 votes, Madhusudhanan has 38,966 votes and DMK's Maruthu Ganesh has 20,388 votes

Official round 15 numbers: AIADMK - 2749, DMK - 1464, TTV Dhinakaran - 4,021

Rival AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakaran today surged ahead with a significant lead against AIADMK and DMK candidates in the RK Nagar bypoll, and claimed victory from the prestigious segment represented by late Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa.


A beaming Dhinakaran told reporters in Madurai, "We are the true AIADMK...people of RK Nagar have elected Amma's successor".

* DMK still some way short of saving their deposit

* Several AIADMK election agents have vacated the place

* Dhinakaran's total lead now stands at 31,538 votes.

* In total, 1,16,698 votes have been counted so far.

* DMK candidate still in danger of losing his deposit.

* Dhinakaran takes round 12 too by a margin of 3,161 votes.

* His total lead across 12 rounds over E Madhusudhanan now stands at 29,539 votes.

* Dhinakaran has polled 60,284 votes, AIADMK'S Madhusudhanan has 30,745 votes and DMK has 15,918 votes.

Dhinakaran has secured what could eventually turn out to be a comfortable and, potentially, winning lead at the end of 11 rounds of counting

* AIADMK - 2370, DMK - 1466, Dhinakaran - 5,507 votes

* Dhinakaran clinches round 11 counting by 3,137 votes

* Total lead after 11 rounds of counting for Dhinakaran is 26,378 votes

As sidelined AIADMK leader and independent candidate TTV Dhinakaran established a clear lead in the RK Nagar byelection, the DMK on Sunday said democracy has lost in the assembly constituency and money power has won. "Money has eaten all DMK votes. In RK Nagar constituency, money power has won and democracy has lost," said.

TTV Dhinakaran pays floral tribute to late AIADMK founder MG Ramachandran on his 30th death anniversary at MGR memorial in Marina Beach #Chennai pic.twitter.com/mcMp9jiHoH

& mdash; ANI (@ANI) December 24, 2017

* TTV Dhinakaran - 5,202; AIADMK - 2,054; DMK - 1,027

* Dhinakaran leads by 20,023 votes

* Total votes counted - 75,861

So far, Dhinakaran has got 39,548 votes; Madhusudhanan 19,525 and DMK candidate 10,233.

TTV Dhinakaran - 5,123, AIADMK - 2,124 and DMK - 1,380

Total votes in TTV's favour after six rounds - 29,255

TTV's lead in sixth round- 2,999

TTV's total lead over Madhusudhanan - 14,074

Total votes counted so far - 57,457

Belying early projections that the real battle was between the ruling AIADMK and the main opposition DMK, independent candidate and rebel leader TTV Dhinakaran sprang a surprise on Sunday, racing ahead in one of the most high-profile and expensive byelection ever. He is all set for a dramatic victory in the RK Nagar bypoll.

At TTV's Chennai residence, his supporters rejoiced, distributing sweets and setting off fireworks as elsewhere in the state they danced in celebration and raised slogans, 'MGR-Dhinakaran'.

Dhinakaran used the analogy of villains in Tamil cinema to compare the party name and symbol being with the EPS-OPS camp. He said, "Will anyone vote for M N Nambiar or Veerappan if they contested the elections? The situation is the same now.'' Nambiar and Veerappa were villains in Tamil cinema.

* Total votes counted: 47,925

* TTV: 24,132

* AIADMK: 13,057

* DMK: 6,665

* Others: 4,071