After poor show, arguments in AIADMK, BJP over wrong script

WITH both AIADMK and BJP drawing a blank in the Lok Sabha election, some leaders of both parties have started arguing how an alliance between the friends-turned-foes could have changed the electoral outcome in Tamil Nadu.

- T MURUGANANDHAM

• SP Velumani says had alliance between AIADMK & BJP been intact, it would have won 30-35 seats

• Annamalai claims Velumani's remarks indicate there is an intra-party wrangling between him and EPS

• Tamilisai Soundararajan says DMK won the Lok Sabha election because the votes got scattered

Addressing reporters in Coimbatore, AIADMK leader and former minister SP Velumani accused BJP state president K Annamalai of playing spoilsport by snapping BJP's ties with the AIADMK and claimed that had the poll alliance remained intact, the combine would have won 30-35 seats. "The alliance with BJP went on smoothly till BJP had Tamilisai Soundararajan and L Murugan as their state presidents. After Annamalai took charge, he started criticising AIADMK and its leaders including former chief ministers CN Annadurai, J Jayalalithaa and Edappadi K Palaniswami. This forced us to break ties with the BJP," he said.