CM: AIADMK, BJP lack strength to face Voters

Without the courage to directly oppose DMK, they try to provoke some scoundrels and wage an indirect war MK STALIN, TN chief minister

- Divya Chandrababu

CHENNAI: The opposition parties AIADMK and BJP have boycotted the assembly by-election in Erode (east), scheduled on February 5, as they lacked "the strength to face the public" and a victory for the ruling DMK would be a prelude to their performance in the 2026 assembly elections, said chief minister and party president MK Stalin on Sunday.

In a letter to DMK cadre, Stalin described it as a "letter of hope" saying that people have rightly identified that the DMK is a party that works for the welfare of Tamil Nadu and the BJP-led Union government is a party that deceives the state.

"The AIADMK and BJP have boycotted the Erode East constituency by-election, making slanderous allegations as usual," Stalin said. "Without the courage to directly oppose the DMK, they are trying to provoke some scoundrels and wage an indirect war."