One of key Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leaders, Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, looks set to make her Lok Sabha debut, building up an impressive lead in the early stages of counting over her main rival Tamilisai Soundararajan, Bharatiya Janata Party state chief, in the Thoothukudi constituency.
The Election Commission website showed Kanimozhi leading by over 41,500 votes at 10.45 am with more rounds still remaining for counting to end.
Kanimozhi’s performance is in line with the expectations as she was predicted to have a smooth sail. Kanimozhi, daughter of one of DMK’s founders and former chief minister M Karunanidhi, had all along been a Rajya Sabha member in her political career.
If she wrests the seat, she could go on to lead the DMK in Parliament.