Jayalalalithaa in lead over others for CM post: Survey

An opinion survey by students of Loyola College here released on Saturday predicted the AIADMK would retain power with J.Jayalalithaa turning out to be the popular choice as the chief minister again.

Following her are DMK's M.K.Stalin and M.Karunanidhi, DMDK's Vijaykant and PMK's Anbumani Ramadoss.

Assembly polls in Tamil Nadu are slated for 2016.

The survey was conducted among 3,370 people in 28 districts spread over 80 assembly constituencies between Aug 13-26, Loyola College People Studies director S.Rajanayagam told reporters here.

As many as 31.56 percent of those who surveyed prefer Jayalalithaa over others for the chief minister's post while Stalin was preferred by 27.98 percent.

However, 21.33 percent of those surveyed favoured former chief minister and DMK president M.Karunanidhi while Vijaykant and Ramadoss were preferred by 6.24 percent and 2.27 percent of the survey sample.

Out of those who were surveyed, 34.1 percent said they would vote for AIADMK while 32.6 percent preferred DMK, showing a marginal difference between the two major parties.

Further 12.8 percent of those surveyed declined to reveal to whom they would vote while 3.2 percent said they would choose "none of the above" option.

The DMDK was preferred by four percent and PMK three percent.

Reacting to the survey, PMK founder S.Ramadoss said the results are laughable.

The survey seems to create an opinion in favour of DMK and more particularly for Stalin, he said in a statement.

Normally only one choice per party would be given for the best chief ministerial candidate whereas two choices were given for DMK, Ramadoss said, adding the survey has several contradictions.

He said 31.56 percent of those surveyed had preferred Jayalalithaa for the chief minister post while 34.1 percent said they would vote for AIADMK.

Meanwhile, the total percentage of who prefer Stalin and Karunanidhi for the chief minister post comes to 49.31 percent whereas those who prefer DMK to come to power are only 32.6 percent.