Congress leader P.Chidambaram slammed the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam for boycotting the by-election to the Vikravandi Assembly seat and added INDIA bloc should work for the resounding victory of the DMK candidate.
Chidambaram, accusing the AIADMK of heeding to the BJP’s directions, tweeted, “AIADMK's decision to boycott the Vikravandi by-election is clear evidence that it has received instructions from the 'top' to facilitate the electoral chances of the NDA candidate (PMK).” He added, “Both BJP and AIADMK are fighting the battle through a proxy (PMK) The I.N.D.I.A. bloc must ensure the resounding victory of the DMK candidate.”
The AIADMK on Saturday in a statement said it is boycotting the bypolls condemning the atrocities of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government in the state. In the statement, AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami charged the DMK wouldn’t let the public vote independently in the election. He also charged free and fair election wouldn’t be conducted hence the party is boycotting Vikravandi bypolls.
The Pattali Makkal Katchi, a constituent of the BJP-led NDA in Tamil Nadu announced on Saturday that the party's vice-president C. Anbumani, will contest the Vikravandi bypoll. Ahead of the others, the DMK had announced its candidate Anniyur Siva for the bypoll.
-with inputs from agencies.