The former Minister of Laws C. Ve. Shanmugam’s statement that AIADMK lost in the legislative elections due to its alliance with the BJP, “which alienated minorities,” took BJP leaders in the Tamil Nadu unity by surprise.

Although they said the alliance would not be affected by his statement, some said anti-titular sentiment had become a handicap for the national party.

BJP State Secretary General KT Raghavan said his party lost many seats due to anti-titular sentiment against the AIADMK government.

‘Not true’

“We govern in the Center and have won 303 seats [in the 2019 Lok Sabha election], including Meerut, dominated by Muslims. We are in power in many states with minority populations. The minorities voted for the BJP. These statements made by Mr. Shanmugam are not correct. In fact, the anti-titular sentiment against AIADMK was a handicap for us, ”he said. The Hindu.

According to him, many of the prime minister’s good works and achievements have been dashed by anti-nomination sentiment, and this has contributed to the defeat of the BJP in many seats.

He said that a senior leader and a former minister should not have made such statements and that it fell to the AIADMK leaders of Edappadi K. Palaniswami and O. Panneerselvam to “control it”.

‘Good relations’

BJP vice president K. Annamalai said his party had dealt with the coordinator and coordinator of AIADMK.

“Both have had a very good relationship with our party, and both parties have worked hard for each other’s candidates. It is a fact, ”Annamalai said.

He said the BJP did not collaborate with Mr. Shanmugam during the elections. “We spoke to EPS [Mr. Palaniswami] and OPS [Mr. Panneerselvam]. I don’t think his statement will affect the elections of local bodies, ”he said.

Kushboo Sundar, who has since disputed Thousand Lights, shared a report on Mr Shanmugam’s remarks and tweeted: “Actually it’s the other way around.”