Chennai: In a stunning victory that could put the K Palaniswami government on the backfoot, sidelined AIADMK leader T T V Dhinakaran on Sunday won the crucial RK Nagar by-poll by a thumping margin of over 40,000 votes.
Dhinakaran, nephew of jailed leader V K Sasikala, trounced his nearest rival E Madhusudhanan of the ruling AIADMK by 40,707 votes in the assembly constituency in north Chennai.
This was higher than the margin of 39,495 votes secured by late Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa last year in the segment in the assembly elections.
The by-poll necessitated by the death of the AIADMK supremo on December 5 last year was held on December 21 and the votes were counted on Sunday.
Commenting on his win, Dhinakaran said it showed that he has the support of "Amma's (Jayalalalithaa's) followers".
AIADMK alleges 'tacit pact' with DMK
The AIADMK alleged there was a 'tacit understanding' between DMK and Dhinakaran to defeat the ruling party.
DMK attributed the victory to money power and said it was a "Himalayan defeat for the Election Commission rather than the DMK candidate".
The EC had made elaborate arrangements and deployed nine observers, considered the highest for a single assembly constituency segment, to monitor the poll.
Contesting as an independent on 'pressure cooker' symbol after losing the battle for AIADMK's 'Two Leaves' to EPS-OPS camp last month, Dhinakaran secured 89,013 votes, about 50 per cent of the 1,76,890 votes polled.
Party veteran Madhusudanan, who sided with now deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam when the latter revolted against Sasikala in February, came second with 48,306 votes. Polling in RK Nagar was held on December 21.
DMK's N Maruthu Ganesh came a distant third with 24,651 votes, in the process losing deposit, as also 57 others, including the BJP nominee who could manage only 1,417 votes.
Dhinakaran's victory is seen as a jolt to the AIADMK which was expected to retain the seat in view of the EC alloting it the Two Leaves symbol besides being in power.
The by-poll was considered an acid test for the AIADMK being the first in post-Jayalalithaa era.
Probable internal feud expected
The outcome is expected to intensify the internal feud and may well alter the power equations in AIADMK with some functionaries, including an MP, reportedly giving subtle indications for a patch-up with Dhinakaran.
The sidelined leader has been vowing to unseat Palaniswami after he revolted against him and Sasikala and teamed up with Panneerselvam earlier this year.
Eighteen AIADMK MLAs loyal to him were disqualified by the assembly Speaker after they met state Governor and expressed lack of confidence in the Chief Minister in August. A petition challenging the disqualification is pending in court.
Palaniswami during the campaign had asked the electorate to be not "deceived" by Dhinakaran like they (AIADMK leaders) had been and asserted only the ruling party could deliver.
It would also be a disappointing verdict for DMK, which pitched for a decisive win that could be a marker for regime change.
The main opposition party was supported by its allies including the Congress, IUML and several other friendly outfits like the Left parties and the MDMK.
Jayalalithaa was elected from the RK Nagar seat in north Chennai first in 2015 and later in 2016.
A by-poll which was previously scheduled in April was rescinded following allegations of cash distribution to voters, a charge which was levelled by DMK and others during the latest poll also.
Winning as an independent, Dhinakaran has set a new record in Tamil Nadu. The last time an independent won in the state assembly/Lok Sabha polls was way back in 1991, when R Tamaraikani got elected from Srivilliputtur.
Dhinakaran was appointed party deputy general secretary by his aunt Sasikala when she went to the Parapana Agrahara Jail in Bengaluru to serve a four year jail term in a disproportionate assets case in February this year.
After the merger of Palaniswami and Panneerselvam camps, an AIADMK general council meeting in September had annulled the appointment of Sasikala as the party general secretary and all appointments/removals made by her, including that of Dhinakaran.
Unfazed, 54-year old Dhinakaran, who along with his aunt Sasikala had been working with late AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa for about three decades, moved on confidently and continued to meet his supporters in all the districts.
On his win, Dhinakaran, who has been predicting the fall of the Palaniswami ministry, said, "it is Amma's constituency. After her demise... I will continue her work in the constituency."
He told reporters here that he was a "follower of Amma's path" and has the "support of her followers."
Asked on the possibility of a patch-up with Palaniswami and Panneerselvam, he said all decisions will be taken only after consultations with party leaders and finally the "party chief" Sasikala.
On indications that a Lok Sabha MP may join hands with him, he said,"I have told you before, they have gone there (EPS, OPS camp) saying they will return."
Earlier in the day, he visited the mausoleum of Jayalalithaa and prostrated there. He also paid tributes at the 'samadhi' of party founder M G Ramachandran as well.
Reacting to Dhinakaran's win, Palaniswami and Panneerelvam, who are the AIADMK co-cordinator and coordinator respectively, said it was achieved by a 'tacit understanding' between the DMK and Dhinakaran.
The two insisted that the loss will not affect the AIADMK. This was the "worst defeat" suffered by the DMK so far in any Assembly segment, they said in a joint statement.
AIADMK senior leader and Minister D Jayakumar said "this is not a victory...this is not a permanent win, deceiving the people is easy."
He alleged money power behind Dhinakaran's victory which was echoed by BJP State unit chief Tamilisai Soundararajan.
DMK working president M K Stalin too alleged role of money power and said,"it will be appropriate to say that the outcome is a Himalayan defeat for the Election Commission rather than the DMK candidate."
While Dhinakaran's supporters broke into a celebratory mode, bursting crackers and distributing sweets, DMK and AIADMK offices wore a deserted look.