The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) asserted its dominance in Tamil Nadu in the recent Lok Sabha elections with a 40/40 win for the party and its allies. Now, the DMK mouthpiece, the Murasoli, in its editorial on June 7 has stated that Narendra Modi has become prime minister for the third time thanks to the ‘borrowed benevolence’ of its alliance parties, namely the Telugu Desam party (TDP) and Janata Dal (United) (JDU).
The Murasoli editorial stated, “The people of India did not vote for Modi to govern. The circumstances have allowed him to be (become) prime minister on borrowed ‘dayavu’ (benevolence/compassion). Enough of making tall claims, assuring that (you will) do this and that with 400 seats and 370 seats; fulfill everyday needs of the Indian people. Create an India that is without tears and worries. That is enough.”
It stated further that though the BJP and Modi had been confident and emphatically stated during the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections that they would win a thumping 400 seats, the reality was far from the truth. “We see with our eyes the saffron party falling into an abyss. Modi alone should own up responsibility for a setback and defeat of this kind. It is because he thought of showcasing election victory as his own individual achievement. As it has failed, that failure is also his own individual defeat,” said the DMK.
The DMK further added that the reason why the elections were held from 19 April to 1 June in seven phases was so that Modi could visit all the states and campaign for the 400 seats they wanted to win. So if there was a failure, it should be attributed to him alone, said the DMK editorial.