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DMK Suffers Major Setback in Tamil Nadu as 15 Key Ministers Lose Seats

The DMK suffered a major electoral setback in Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, winning only 59 of 164 contested seats. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, 15 key ministers, and the Assembly Speaker were defeated amid a strong anti-incumbency wave. The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam emerged as a significant force, altering traditional voting patterns. The results mark a decisive shift in Tamil Nadu's political landscape, with the DMK preparing to assume opposition role.

Key Points: DMK Setback in TN: 15 Key Ministers Lose in Assembly Polls

  • DMK wins only 59 of 164 contested seats
  • 15 key ministers including CM M.K. Stalin defeated
  • Strong anti-incumbency wave across Tamil Nadu
  • TVK emerges as major force, altering voting patterns
3 min read

DMK suffers major setback in TN as 15 key ministers lose

DMK suffers major electoral setback in Tamil Nadu Assembly polls, winning only 59 seats. 15 key ministers including M.K. Stalin lose amid strong anti-incumbency wave.

"The outcome was particularly striking as Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, several senior ministers, and even the Assembly Speaker were defeated - News Report"

Chennai, May 5

The DMK has suffered a major electoral setback in the recently concluded Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, winning only around 59 of the 164 constituencies it contested directly and slipping into the Opposition.

The polls witnessed a fierce three-cornered contest involving the DMK, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, and the AIADMK, with the ruling party failing to retain its dominance amid a strong surge by TVK.

The outcome was particularly striking as Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, several senior ministers, and even the Assembly Speaker were defeated, reflecting a strong wave of anti-incumbency across the state.

Among the prominent losers, Health Minister M. Subramanian was defeated in Saidapet by nearly 28,500 votes, while School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi lost in Tiruverumbur.

Minister T.R.B. Rajaa was defeated in Mannargudi, and Minister Moorthy lost Madurai East by over 16,500 votes.

Finance Minister P.T.R. Palanivel Thiagarajan faced an unexpected defeat in Madurai Central, where a TVK candidate emerged victorious in a multi-cornered contest.

Senior ministers also faced setbacks across regions, with K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran losing in Aruppukkottai and Thangam Thennarasu suffering defeat in his constituency.

Veteran leader Durai Murugan lost Katpadi by more than 7,600 votes, while Minister Muthusamy was defeated in Erode West by over 22,000 votes.

Ministers Nassar (Avadi), Mathivendhan (Rasipuram), R. Rajendran (Salem North), Gandhi (Ranipet), and Saminathan (Kangeyam) were also among those who lost.

In Alandur, T.M. Anbarasan was defeated by a margin exceeding 25,000 votes.

One of the closest contests was witnessed in Tiruppattur, where Minister Periyakaruppan lost by just a single vote, highlighting the intensely competitive nature of the election.

Despite the widespread losses, a section of the DMK leadership managed to hold on to their seats.

Udhayanidhi Stalin won from Chepauk with a margin of over 7,300 votes, while Minister Sekarbabu secured victory in Harbour.

K.N. Nehru retained Tiruchirappalli West, and I. Periyasamy registered a strong win in Athoor.

Chakrapani won from Oddanchatram with a comfortable margin, while E.V. Velu narrowly held Tiruvannamalai.

Ministers M.R.K. Panneerselvam, Meyyanathan, C.V. Ganesan, and K. Chezhiyan were also among those who secured victories, along with Anita Radhakrishnan in Tiruchendur and Raghupathi, Sivashankar, and Rajakannappan in their respective constituencies.

The results mark a decisive shift in Tamil Nadu's political landscape, with the emergence of TVK significantly altering traditional voting patterns and eroding the dominance of both the DMK and AIADMK.

While the DMK managed to secure wins for only a limited number of its ministers, the scale of high-profile defeats underscores the challenges ahead for the party as it prepares to assume the role of the Opposition after its term in power.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Priya S
Honestly, I'm not surprised. The DMK government had become complacent and out of touch with ground realities. Losing 15 ministers including the Health Minister during a time when healthcare is still a priority is shocking but deserved. The single-vote loss in Tiruppattur shows how closely contested this was. 🙏 Time for introspection, not just blame games.
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Michael C
As an outsider looking in, this shift is fascinating. The rise of TVK seems to have fractured the traditional Dravidian vote bank. It will be interesting to see how this affects national politics and whether the DMK can rebuild. The defeat of Finance Minister Thiagarajan in Madurai Central is particularly significant—it shows economic performance isn't always the deciding factor in Indian elections.
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Vikram M
The people have spoken! Anti-incumbency wave is undeniable when even the Chief Minister's own ministers lose. But I do feel for the veteran leaders like Durai Murugan who lost after years of service. However, democracy is about change, and if the DMK didn't deliver, they deserved to go. Let's hope the new government learns from these mistakes and serves the people better. 🤞
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Ananya R
This is what happens when a party becomes too comfortable with power. The DMK should have focused on development and governance rather than dynastic politics and internal squabbles. I hope this humbling defeat teaches them a lesson—the people aren't fools, and they'll vote based on performance, not legacy. TVK's emergence might actually be good for democracy in TN.
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Rohit P
Arrey

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