LD TRENDS DMK ahead in TN, ally Congress fares badly

 The ruling DMK appeared to be doing well in the Lok Sabha elections in Tamil Nadu establishing early leads in most of the 21 seats it contested but its key ally Congress was fairing badly while the AIADMK led front was ahead in nine constituencies as per latest trends.     

Of the 36 constituencies for which trends are available, the DMK front was ahead in 27 while the AIADMK and its allies have established early leads in nine seats.     

In neighbouring Puducherry, Union Minister and Congress candidate V Narayanasamy has established a lead of around 38,500 votes over his nearest PMK rival M Ramadoss.     

DMK's arch rival AIADMK seems to be gaining at the expense of the Congress, whose prominent leaders including Union Home Minister P Chidambaram (Sivaganga), his cabinet colleagues Manishankar Aiyar (Mayiladuthurai) and E V K S Elangovan (Erode) were trailing.     

Congress, which had ten seats in the outgoing Lok Sabha and contested 16 seats this time, is leading only in Theni, Cuddalore, Dindigul and Arani.     

Notable among the DMK candidates doing well are Chief Minister M Karunanidhi son M K Azhagiri, leading by around 62,000 votes against CPI-M rival P Mohan in Madurai and Union Ministers T R Baalu (Sriperumbudur) and A Raja (Nilgiris).     

DMK's ally VCK leader Thol Tirumavalavan was ahead in Chidambaram by 18,000 votes against E Ponnusamy of the PMK.     

MDMK leader Vaiko was trailing Congress rival Manik Tagore by 4,100 votes in Virudhunagar at the end of the fifth round.