Coimbatore: DMK chief M K Stalin on Thursday came in for praise from a senior State BJP leader who lauded him for steering the Dravidian party to a tremendous victory in the Lok Sabha polls, where Tamilnadu bucked the national trend of saffron surge.
Former BJP MP C P Radhakrishnan hailed Stalin as a “victorious commander.” The DMK President is addressed as ‘Thalapathi,’ meaning commander. Speaking at a marriage function in nearby Tirupur, Radhkrishnan said Stalin, who succeeded the late M Karunanidhi, had “decimated” the saffron party.
The AIADMK-led NDA in the State fared poorly in the 18 April general elections securing only one seat when the ruling party won the Theni seat. All other candidates including those from the BJP and PMK, both NDA constituents were trumped by the DMK-led alliance.
Radhakrishnan said this defeat had taught the BJP to do more hard work. However, Stalin, who was present at the function, said, “the people had defeated you (BJP).” On the frequent criticism of dynasty politics in the DMK, Stalin sarcastically remarked that it was true. “Because, the entire family is attending to and working for the success of the party,” he said.