Delhi Elections 2013: DMDK garners 2,300 votes in its maiden attempt in Delhi

NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu-based Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), led by actor-turned-politician Vijayakanth, garnered about 2,300 votes in its maiden attempt in the Delhi assembly elections.

Of the party's 11 candidates, two polled over 300 votes, four over 200. Ishvari, who contested from the Wazirpur seat in North Delhi got 362 votes, the highest among DMDK nominees, and K Swarna from Janakpuri received the lowest of 110 votes.

G S Mani, who tried his luck from the high-profile New Delhi constituency, where Aam Aadmi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal defeated Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, occupied the seventh position among 17 contestants.

"I had received 15 postal votes. Getting a little over 200 votes in a constituency comprising considerable number of intellectual people is an achievement," Mani claimed.

The DMDK chief surprised the Tamil population, both in Tamil Nadu and Delhi, by entering the poll fray in Delhi.

He campaigned in the national capital for five days, highlighting the pathetic living conditions of Tamils in jhuggis (slums). Eight of the 11 DMDK contestants hailed from jhuggis, DMDK Delhi State secretary V N Dakshinamurthy said.

"In a few constituencies, we had out performed parties such as NCP and SP. When nobody had cared about the people in the slums, we nominated people from there," he said, adding that "we would improve our vote share in the coming local body elections".