Party headquarters of the DMK and BJP come alive with song and dance in Chennai

DMK supporters celebrate landslide victory in Tamil Nadu, while AIADMK cadre reflect on defeat in Lok Sabha elections.

Even a sudden downpour in Chennai did not dampen the spirits of the DMK supporters and party functionaries who gathered in large numbers at Anna Arivalayam on Tuesday evening to celebrate the victory of the party and its allies in Tamil Nadu.

The DMK-led alliance decimated the AIADMK and the BJP alliances in the Lok Sabha election with the score line reading 40-0.

After Chief Minister M.K. Stalin addressed the crowd, three members of the party’s women’s wing from Saidapet clicked photos against the backdrop of the decked-out DMK headquarters.

Dressed in a sari with the party colours and the rising sun symbol, R. Ponnuthaayi from Ramanathapuram district had come to the city to celebrate Kalaignar Karunanidhi’s birthday on June 3. She extended her stay to commemorate the DMK’s win. “If our thalaivar says he will win 40 seats, he will get 40,” she said.

K. Nagoor Pichai walked around the party office waving a flag with the INDIA bloc’s party symbols in Tamil Nadu. He had travelled from Goripalayam in Madurai to take part in the celebrations. “This election shows that there is no place for religious divide in Tamil Nadu,” said G. Senthil Kumar, an elated party member from Kancheepuram.

At Kamalalayam, the BJP state headquarters at T. Nagar, party cadre celebrated the party’s victory at the Centre. Cadre were seen dancing to the drumbeats, as crackers went off and laddus were distributed to passers-by. Senior leader H. Raja was distributing the sweets.

Asked about why they were celebrating despite the party’s defeat in Tamil Nadu, a leader said it was for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s third term. There would be a bigger celebration during the swearing in ceremony, he added.