In a big blow to the DMK ahead of the urban local body polls, an ADMK candidate in Tirupattur has won the race unopposed as the local unit of the ruling party has failed to field a candidate and the defeat before the elections had shocked the DMK leadership and troubled the local minister, who was tasked to ensure a big victory for the party.

For the urban local body polls, the DMK has tasked every minister to work on the ground towards ensuring that the party wins big in the local government institutions. However, there were a few events where the candidates of both ADMK and DMK had won unopposed after the rival party stayed off from the race. The reports say that these incidents had happened after there was an understanding between both the parties at local levels.

Their understanding was in the capability of withdrawing the candidate against each other to secure a hassle-free victory. Such an incident has now happened in Tirupattur in the Sivaganga district. According to our sources, Tirupattur is being represented by senior DMK leader and Tamil Nadu Rural Development Minister KR Periyakaruppan and he was monitoring the local body polls in the district. However, the local cadres had withdrawn a candidate without his knowledge to make the ADMK candidate win.

Palathur municipality, which falls under Tirupattur legislative constituency, has 15 wards. ADMK has fielded Deivanai as its councillor candidate in the eighth ward. However, the DMK hasn't fielded a candidate and hasn't filed the nomination. In the end, as no nominations were filed against Deivanai, she was declared an unopposed winner. 

On the other hand, after knowing that the DMK didn't field its candidate, the Congress party, which is in the DMK alliance, has asked to minister Periyakaruppan to allot the eighth ward for them, he didn't respond well. Ahead of the polls, our sources say that Palathur ADMK secretary Manickam had held talks with the DMK leaders and following an understanding, the DMK didn't field the candidate, clearing the way for the ADMK to a victory. 

While the ADMK had celebrated the victory, it has come to the notice of the minister that the DMK didn't field the candidate. Knowing the fact, the minister had slammed the local leaders for not fielding the candidate. He also warned them that they will face the consequences after the elections. The local body polls will be held on Saturday - February 19 and the results will be declared on February 22.