DMK President M K Stalin on Thursday said he would accept complete responsibility for the DMK’s defeat in the April 23 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections and announced that a committee would be formed to study the reasons behind the setback and submit its findings within 20 days.
Stalin also took an indirect dig at the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), remarking that the DMK was mature enough not to confine its legislators to resorts following the election outcome.
The statement was seen as a veiled reference to the AIADMK shifting its newly elected MLAs to a resort in Puducherry after the May 4 Assembly election results produced a hung verdict, with no party securing the required 118 seats to independently form the government.
Addressing the party’s district secretaries at Anna Arivalayam, the DMK headquarters in Chennai, Stalin noted that no single party had achieved a majority in the elections.
“The government led by C Joseph Vijay came to power only with the support of alliance partners. The Left parties, VCK and IUML extended unconditional backing to the TVK during government formation,” the former chief minister said.
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Recalling previous electoral performances, Stalin said that whenever the DMK had lost power in the past, it managed to secure only a limited number of seats. “This time, we have won 59 seats, and if we include the seats won by our allies, our strength rises to 73,” he pointed out.
Stating that victories and defeats are a natural part of politics just as ups and downs are part of life, Stalin asserted that the DMK was more politically mature than its rivals.
“That is why, unlike some other parties, we did not keep our MLAs in resorts and luxury hotels out of fear. We had the courage to face defeat openly,” he said in an apparent attack on the AIADMK.
Stalin further said he had worked relentlessly over the past five years and ensured that the previous DMK government functioned with people’s welfare as its priority.
“The public is aware of our efforts. I do not want to shift the blame to anyone for our inability to return to power. As party leader, I take full responsibility for the defeat. If I can claim credit for victory, it is only right that I also accept responsibility for failure instead of blaming others,” he said.
Referring to the TVK government winning the trust vote in the Assembly with 144 votes, Stalin observed that the ruling alliance had demonstrated its majority on the floor of the House despite not securing an outright majority in the election.
Commenting on divisions within the AIADMK, after 25 of its MLAs supported the TVK government during the confidence motion moved by Chief Minister Vijay on Wednesday, Stalin said the party’s conduct was unpredictable.
“There is no need to elaborate on how the AIADMK behaves. In the present circumstances, it is impossible to foresee what may happen next. Therefore, we must conduct ourselves properly and effectively in the Assembly,” he added.
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