MAHE: Months back, when asked about chances of victory in Assembly elections, Congress strongman E Valsaraj was self-assured and confident. “I have a clear idea how many votes the opponents grabbed last time and how much they can in the coming polls. I know exactly how to win the elections,” he had replied.
However, when the votes counting ended, LDF backed independent candidate Dr V Ramachandran won by a clear margin of 2,139 votes from Mahe, the enclave of Union Territory of Puducherry in Kerala. Out of the total polled 23,489 votes, Dr Ramachandran grabbed 10,797 votes. Valsaraj got only 8,658 votes. This time, a record 10 candidates were in the poll fray.
The result shocked the Congress camp in Mahe even as the party won half of the seats in the Assembly alone and is all set to form government with the help of DMK. Valsaraj, the senior most party leader, would have been Home Minister of the Puducherry cabinet if elected. “We are yet to come out of that shock, such was our confidence. We will analyse the results soon,” said a close confidante of Valsaraj.
Meanwhile, Dr Ramchandran’s victory became a classic example of systematic use of social media and door to door campaigning. The work of the NRIs also turned crucial in the results. “This is a judgement against the corruption and ‘money for vote’ campaign,” said Jinos Basheer, Secretary of Mayyazhikoottam, a social organisation of Mahe residents. Dr Ramachandran is the only independent elected in the 30-member Puducherry Assembly.
