We focused on AIADMK and ignored TVK: Nehru

Trichy: A resolution was passed at the meeting of DMK’s Trichy central and north district units held in Trichy on Wednesday, urging the functionaries to celebrate the birth anniversary (June 3) of former chief minister M Karunanidhi by promoting his contributions to the state by posting videos on social media platforms.Deputy leader of the opposition K N Nehru in the meeting said if the assembly election was conducted in early April, DMK could have formed a govt but a ‘wave of change’ that prevailed in the last few days in run-up to the polling has denied them the victory.“Usually the fight will be between DMK and AIADMK, but it has now changed between DMK and TVK. We do not know the fate of AIADMK and where its votebank will head. But we have a history of rising strong from defeats. TVK has tactically won the election with social media. We focused extensively on AIADMK and ignored TVK,” Nehru said.Stating that the margin of defeat for DMK in 27 constituencies was between one and 2,000 votes, the former minister acknowledged that DMK did not treat TVK as a political enemy and did not expect the election result to go in favour of it. “Initial surveys predicted TVK to get only 10-15% vote share, perhaps a maximum of 20%. But the last few days before the election, the expected vote share soared to 25-30%. Their strategy to sway people through social media was vital,” Nehru said.Ex-MLAs, union and town secretaries were asked to analyse reasons for the election defeat and strengthen the party to win the upcoming byelections. A total of three resolutions including one thanking the people who voted for the Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) were passed.