Madurai (Tamil Nadu), (Thestates.news)| Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister P. Chidambaram on Sunday alleged that the AIADMK’s decision to boycott the Vikravandi by-election is to facilitate the electoral chances of the NDA candidate “on the instructions from the top”.
In a post on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter), Chidambaram said the 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 (Pattali Makkal Katchi).
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, he added.
Chidambaram made an indirect reference to the BJP as “top”.
The Vikravandi assembly constituency in Villupuram district fell vacant on April 6, following the death of DMK MLA N.Pugazhenthi. The Election Commission of India announced that the by-election to Vikravandi assembly constituency will be held on July 10.
While the ruling DMK has fielded Anniyur Siva as its candidate, Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) announced homeopathy doctor Abinaya Ponnivalavan as its candidate, the PMK’s C.Anbumani would contest the election under the BJP-led NDA alliance.
However, the principal opposition party in Tamil Nadu, the AIADMK has decided to boycott the Vikravandi by-election. AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K.Palaniswami expressed concern that the DMK will misuse government machinery and use its muscle and money power to prevent the election from being conducted in a free and fair manner. The AIADMK would focus on the 2026 assembly elections and form the next government in the State, he said.
The AIADMK’s decision to boycott the Vikravandi by-poll triggered a political row in Tamil Nadu, with the DMK and its close allies alleging that the AIADMK has clandestine ties with BJP and it’s decision to boycott the by-poll is an indirect help to strengthen the BJP-led NDA alliance in the State. (UNI)