AMN /
Ruling Trinamool Congress TMC of Mamata Banerjee today crushed the opposition in West Bengal. In Tamil Nadu’s AIADMK proved exit polls wrong and retained power in assembly elections. The BJP stormed to power in Assam while the Left made a comeback in Kerala amid a washout in West Bengal.
The Congress was the worst hit in the five-state election, losing power both in Assam, which it had ruled for 15 long years, and Kerala, where it was confident of winning its second term. The Congress-DMK alliance was, however, ahead of the ruling All India NR Congress in Puducherry.
In West Bengal, the TMC has crossed the two-third mark by winning 211 seats in the 294 member assembly. Congress- Left combine has taken 76 seats while BJP has bagged three seats. Independents and others have won four seats.
West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC Supremo, Mamta Banerjee has won from Bhabanipur Assembly Constituency. She defeated her nearest Congress rival Deepa Dasmunshi by over 25 thousand votes. West Bengal Speaker Biman Banerjee has won from Baruipur Paschim Constituency.
In Tamil Nadu, AIADMK Chief J. Jayalalitha has made history by becoming the first Chief Minister in 32 years to be voted back to power. Her party bagged 134 seats out of 232 seats that went to polls. The opposition DMK has won 89 seats while Congress has bagged 8 segments and IUML one.
Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has won Dr. RK Nagar constituency in Chennai. DMK Patriarch M. Karunanidhi has won for a record 13th time from his home turf of Tiruvarur defeating his nearest rival R.Panneerselvam of AIADMK.
Addressing party workers, Ms. Jayalalithaa called the victory a historic one and vowed to strive for the people with renewed vigour. She said the verdict has put a permanent end to the family politics of DMK. Overwhelmed by the result, AIADMK workers burst crackers and distributed sweets. A large number of party workers thronged Ms. Jayalalithaa’s Poes Garden residence area and the party headquarters.