Even after the counting of votes, the election heat has not subsidised as the Aravakurichi MLAelect V Senthil Balaji (DMK) prodded Transport Minister M R Vijayabaskar to resign as per his pre-poll statement.

Senthil Balaji

Chennai:

“Please let me know when you (Vijayabaskar) are resigning your post and quitting politics. We can then prepare for a by-election in Karur,” quipped Senthil Balaji late on Thursday, after receiving the winning certificate.

AIADMK leader and Transport Minister Vijayabaskar, during his election campaign, told the public on several occasions that he would resign his post and quit politics if Senthil Balaji managed to get his deposit back.

However, Senthil Balaji secured as many as 98,154 votes and defeated his AIADMK rival V V Senthilnathan by a margin of 38,090 votes.

Senthil Balaji, who met media persons after receiving the winning certificate from Returning

Officer Meenakshi, said he had faced a series of challenges posed by the ruling AIADMK leaders, who even attempted to spoil his political campaign.

“Despite having power and getting support from police and poll officials, people preferred to vote for the DMK,” he said.