Split votes over alliance change sees defeat of PMK in Pondy

Congress veteran M O H Farook, a former Union Minister, who won the seat now has polled 37.17 per cent of the total votes cast, while Ramadass who came second polled 31.73 per cent and TMC candidate P Kannan got 25.16 per cent, a PTI computer analysis reveals.

In other words, TMC and PMK had together polled 56.89 per cent which is much more than Farook8217;s.

It was a case of history repeating itself as in the 1998 elections, it was the AIADMK which had parted company with the Congress had taken away 25.10 per cent of votes, while the Congress had polled 32.12 per cent, totalling 57.22 per cent. The winning DMK candidate then had polled only 41.11 per cent.

In 1998, DMK was in alliance with TMC in Pondicherry and Tamil nadu, while AIADMK was in alliance with BJP.

Farook this time polled 1,65,108 votes as against Ramadass8217;s 1,40,920 votes.

TMC candidate P Kannan, who made the crucial difference in the outcome, polled 1,11,737 votes.

Pondicherry witnessed a voter turnout of 63.27 per cent with 4,44,162 voters exercising their franchise out of a total electorate of 7,01,990.

The result meant a gain for the Congress and loss for the DMK though not for NDA as it was not in existence in 1998.

Congress had always won the seat since 1967, except in 1977 when AIADMK took it.

The Congress did its best in 1980 when it polled 66.5 per cent.