The issue of corruption has shut out the political fortune of the incumbent Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, and swept into power the state's main opposition All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party.
- Babu/Reuters
- A supporter of AIADMK holds a party’s election symbol during celebration of the party’s victory.
The AIADMK, led by ex-movie star J. Jayalalithaa recorded a landslide victory Friday, winning 150 seats in the 234-member Tamil Nadu assembly; the DMK has won 23 seats and its ally the Congress Party, 5 seats, according to the Election Commission of India.
During last assembly elections in 2006, the AIADMK won 61 seats; the DMK and Congress won 96 and 34 seats respectively.
Political experts say Friday's verdict indicates that the issue of corruption has emerged as the main influential factor in this election, and became the public’s main concern across the country.
"The problems for the DMK are not over," said Cho S. Ramaswamy, a well-known political commentator. "The verdict has marked the beginning of the end for the regional party."
The assembly elections in Tamil Nadu were held against the backdrop of a telecom-licensing scandal in which former telecom minister and senior DMK leader Andimuthu Raja, has been charged with wrongdoing in the allocation of spectrum licenses, leading to his arrest this February.
Also charged in the scam is DMK leader and outgoing Chief Minister M. Kar [...]
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