Will analyse RK Nagar defeat, take corrective steps: M K Stalin
The reasons are likely to be analysed at the high level strategy committee meeting of the DMK scheduled on December 29, party sources said.
Chennai: The defeat in the RK Nagar by-poll was the “prize” that the party received for its resolve to face the people in elections by sticking to established democratic norms, DMK Working President MK Stalin said on Monday. He asked his party cadre not to consider it as a “setback”. In a missive to party cadre, Stalin also promised to analyse the reasons for DMK's defeat in the elections and take corrective measures. The reasons are likely to be analysed at the high level strategy committee meeting of the DMK scheduled on December 29, party sources said.
A day after terming the RK Nagar election results as a “Himalayan defeat” for the Election Commission that failed to curb rampant use of money power, Stalin said the DMK candidate could not even sail through to get back his deposit amount due to “raining money” from both factions of the ruling AIADMK. “Those people who are laughing at the DMK's defeat (read EPS-OPS) are indirectly trying to hide the atrocities and misuse of power that took place in the run up to the RK Nagar polls. Incidents that forced cancellation of the April 12 by-poll recurred this time as well, but the Election Commission closed its eyes and ears to all irregularities”, Stalin said.
Since no action was taken against Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and his cabinet colleagues who were accused of distributing money to people in April 12 byelections, they were emboldened this time and fixed anywhere between Rs 6000 to Rs 10000 for a vote. Contending that such a victory fuelled by rampant use of money power was nothing but a 'shame”, he said the DMK could manage to save its “self-respect” by deciding not to fix rates for votes. The DMK had taken a conscious decision not to distribute money for votes.
He also asked the DMK cadre not to “lose heart” and get “disappointed” with discouraging words from “those in power” and predicted general elections to the Assembly soon. “In the elections where money played a major role, the party's strategy and campaign will be analysed and put to scrutiny. “Weeds will be removed from the paddy field so as to ensure that cultivation (party) continues for another 1000 years,” he said.