DMK Poll Strategist Accepts Verdict, Rejects Blame on PEN Alone

 Chennai: Sabareesan Vedamurthy, the founder of Populus Empowerment Network (PEN), the socio-political research organization that had a role in the online campaign for the DMK in the Assembly elections, graciously accepted the people’s verdict and said that blaming his organization alone would not be right.

Replying to allegations that PEN was the main reason for DMK’s setback in the elections, he said, in a statement that oversimplifying a large political outcome to one narrative would not reflect the reality. However he said his organization was committed to introspection and understanding shortcomings honestly.

While some DMK cadre and functionaries, too, pointed fingers at PEN as it happened at the district office-bearers meeting in Krishnagiri, PEN said public scrutiny was natural in a democracy. It welcomed constructive criticism from the cadre and public though it cautioned against misinformation, personal attacks and unverified claims that could derail democracy.

DMK president and former Chief Minister M K Stalin has already formed a committee to go into the reasons for the party’s debacle and told the members to be fair and honest in the assessment without protecting anyone or victimizing anyone.