Chennai: In a remarkable electoral victory, two women candidates from the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party have emerged victorious in the Chennai city elections. M R Pallavi, 36, who is eight months pregnant, and J Kamatchi, 44, contested from Thiru Vi Ka Nagar and Pallavaram constituencies respectively. Both are first-time contestants and won by substantial margins of 22,333 and 54,693 votes.
Women Candidates in the Fray
A total of 53 women candidates contested in the city, including 20 Independents. Among the 33 women from recognized political parties, the DMK fielded two, AIADMK three, TVK two, and BJP one. The NTK had fielded 12 candidates. Despite the large number of women contestants, only Pallavi and Kamatchi secured victory.
Pallavi's Determined Campaign
TVK members highlighted that Pallavi's persistence during the campaign resonated with voters. Despite being in the final stages of pregnancy, she continued door-to-door outreach in peak summer. "I will start working from today. My constituency is backward and requires a lot of work. I see it as an opportunity given by God to serve people," she said.
TVK youth wing secretary J Karthick, who worked closely with her, stated, "This is a deserved win for Akka (elder sister). She struggled to walk and fainted from dehydration once. When we went to ask for votes, many residents offered juice and advised her to stay at home. But her determination has earned her this win."
Veterans and Newcomers Lose
Among the women candidates who lost were veterans such as former Telangana and Puducherry governor Tamilisai Soundararajan from BJP, and former ministers Gokula Indira and B Valarmathi from AIADMK. New candidates, including doctors A P Poornima and R S Kiruthika Devi from DMK, and Porkodi Armstrong, lawyer and wife of slain BSP leader Armstrong, also faced defeat.
Tamilisai's Reaction
Tamilisai congratulated the winners and remarked that this election can be considered both a 'Vijay wave' and a DMK anti-incumbency wave. "This setback will not affect my public service and voicing concerns. I accept people's decision," she said.
The results underscore the growing influence of TVK in Tamil Nadu politics, as the party managed to push major parties like DMK and AIADMK to the margins in several constituencies.
