'Congress Votes Were DMK Votes': Tamilisai Hits Back After Leader Says BJP Votes In TN Are Courtesy PMK

Tamilisai argued that without the DMK's support the Congress would have performed poorly in Lok Sabha Elections in Tamil Nadu.

BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan, on Saturday, voiced strong criticism of the Congress party, asserting that if it had contested the recent Lok Sabha elections independently in Tamil Nadu, it would have failed to retain its deposit in any constituency. Speaking at the airport, Tamilisai responded to Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K. Selvaperunthagai's remark that the votes secured by the BJP were essentially PMK votes. She countered, suggesting that the votes for the Congress were, in reality, DMK votes.

Despite the BJP’s failure to win any seats, Tamilisai highlighted that the party garnered an impressive 11.24 percent vote share. The Congress, allied with the DMK, won nine seats in Tamil Nadu and one in Puducherry. Tamilisai argued that without the DMK's support, the Congress would have performed poorly.

Tamilisai said: "Congress leader Selvaperunthagai says votes secured by BJP were PMK votes, and in that case, votes received by Congress party were actually the DMK votes. Will Chief Minister M K Stalin deny this?"

"Selvaperunthagai has no moral right to criticize the BJP since the Congress rides piggyback on the DMK," Tamilisai stated. "It is only due to the support of the DMK and other parties in that alliance that the Congress has won in the state. Unlike Congress, the BJP remains strong in Tamil Nadu and has the courage to go it alone in polls."

Tamilisai, who contested unsuccessfully in the Chennai South constituency, losing to DMK candidate Tamizhachi Thangapandian by a margin of over 200,000 votes, pointed out the contrasting fortunes of the BJP and Congress. She emphasized the BJP’s resilience and independent strength, in contrast to the Congress’ reliance on its alliance with the DMK.

She also referenced internal Congress dynamics, noting that when Selvaperunthagai expressed a desire to reestablish Kamarajar's rule (a reference to Congress dominance), senior leader E.V.K.S. Elangovan retorted that the DMK's rule was effectively Kamaraj's rule. This, according to Tamilisai, indicated the Congress' limited prospects for progress in Tamil Nadu without significant changes.