CHENNAI: Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Monday congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his party’s victory in the elections to the Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh Assemblies.
The CM conveyed his greetings to Modi over phone.Meanwhile, DMK working president MK Stalin on Monday said the outcome had underscored the need for unity among secular parties to protect diversity and democracy in the nation. He also congratulated the PM on the victory.
Reacting to the high-voltage polls in the two States, he said, “I extend my greetings to the BJP for retaining power in Gujarat and wresting power from the Congress in Himachal Pradesh. But these poll results clearly underscore the need for unity among the secular parties to protect the nation’s diversity and democracy.”In the wake of suspicions raised over the possibilities of tampering with Electronic Voting Machines and the alleged partiality of the Election Commission of India (ECI), Stalin noted, “Caesar’s wife must be above suspicion; so shall be the Election Commission.”
Replying to a question on the possible impact of the result on the Assembly polls in Tamil Nadu, he said it would not have any effect. “It is younger sister Tamilisai’s wish; I don’t want to interfere in it,” was Stalin’s answer to a question over Tamil Nadu BJP president Dr Tamilisai Soundarrajan’s statement that her party would capture power in Tamil Nadu on the lines of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh.
United front for 2019: Thiruma
Meanwhile, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) leader Thol Thirumavalavan too expressed the view that secular and democratic forces in the nation should stay united. “The election results are a warning to secular and democratic forces in the nation,” he said.
Thirumavalavan added, “These forces should forge unity to put up a united front to face the 2019 general elections.”
Setback to BJP: Thirunavukkarasar
Pointing out the loss of seats and vote share the BJP had secured when compared to the previous elections in Gujarat, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president S Thirunavukkarasar stated that the poll outcome was a setback to the saffron party.
“It’s really a setback to the BJP,” he said, reacting to the results of Assembly elections in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home turf.
Thirunavukkarasar noted that the Congress had won more number of seats, besides garnering more vote share in the current polls whereas the BJP’s vote share and seats declined.