AIADMK is on its way to win a majority and form a government in the Tamil Nadu but the party saw some top leaders, including senior ministers, biting the dust, with the DMK putting up a stiff fight.
Four ministers in the Jayalalithaa cabinet lost in the hotly contested elections, results of which were announced today.
Electricity Minister 'Natham' R Viswanathan lost in Athoor in Dindigul District to I Periyasamy (DMK) by a margin of 27,147 votes. Periasamy polled 1,21,738 votes against Viswanathan's 94,591.
Former Housing Minister R Vaithilingam lost to DMK nominee M Ramchandran by a margin of 3,645 votes in Orathanadu. Vaithilingam secured 80,733 votes while Ramchandran bagged 84,738 votes.
Indira, also a member in the outgoing AIADMK cabinet, was humbled by M K Mohan (DMK) by a margin of 1,687 votes.
Indira who contested from Anna Nagar constituency secured 70,520 votes while Mohan managed to get 72,207 votes.
Social Welfare Minister B Valarmathi who contested from Thousand Lights Constituency, was defeated by KK Selvam (DMK) by a margin of 8,500 votes.
Selvam secured 57,731 votes while Valarmathi managed 49,231.
AIADMK spokesperon and actress C R Saraswathi lost to I E Karunanithi of DMK by 9,205 votes. Saraswathi got 51,135 votes while Karunanithi polled 62,426 votes.
Actor-politician R Sarath Kumar, whose Samathuva Makkal Katchi contested from Tiruchendur constituency on AIADMK's Two Leaves symbol, lost to DMK's local heavyweight Anitha R Radhakrishnan.
Sarath Kumar secured 62,356 votes while Radhakrishnan polled 88,357 votes.
