Chennai: Despite not meeting its target and inability to cash in on the Modi wave, the BJP here is buoyed that it could play spoilsport to the AIADMK’s prospects in two constituencies at a time when the DMK which had been in power in the state and the Congress were totally decimated.
But the biggest victory for the saffron party is the landslide win at the national level. The BJP went into a celebratory mood over Modi’s historic win and they celebrated the victory by distributing sweets and bursting crackers.
State BJP president Pon Radhakrishnan contesting from Kanyakumari and PMK leader Dr Anbumani Ramadoss contesting for the first time from Dharmapuri had saved the NDA. “We did not take the campaign to the people effectively by converting the Modi wave into votes,” state BJP general secretary Vanathi Srinivasan said when asked about the NDA’s performance.
“We should have commenced the poll related work immediately instead of indulging in negotiations that stretched beyond the limits, to form an alliance. Nevertheless, we managed to pick up and fared better,” said M. Chakravarthy, state vice-president.
Claiming that it was only because of Modi factor that the NDA was able to reach the second position in the state putting to shame the DMK and Congress, party’s organising secretary S. Mohanarajulu said the NDA has proved that it could be an alternative to the ruling dispensation.
At Kamalalayam, the party headquarters, scores of cadres descended in the morning hoping to see the BJP win at least 8-10 seats. But their attention soon turned to the national scene after Modi’s emphatic victory start pouring in on TV.
