Hours before the commencement of indirect elections to the posts of Mayor and Deputy Mayor of the newly created Cuddalore Corporation on Friday, the DMK suffered a political embarrassment after about 20 councilors, a majority of them belonging to the party were taken by a rebel group to a seaside resort near Puducherry.
Of the 45 wards in the Cuddalore Corporation, the DMK-led front emerged victorious in 34 wards. The DMK’s candidates romped home in 27 wards while its allies, the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and Tamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi (TVK) emerged victorious in three wards each while the Congress won in one ward.
However, internal party squabbles came to the fore after the DMK announced R. Sundari, wife of the party’s town secretary Raja as its candidate for the Mayor post. The party allotted the Deputy Mayor post to the VCK, which nominated Thamaraiselvan for the post.
