NDA allies failed to come together to fight TN bypoll: BJP

New Delhi, Feb 16: With initial trends indicating that the BJP was heading towards defeat in Srirangam by-poll, BJP state President Tamilisai Soundararajan said that NDA allies failed to come under a single umbrella to fight the elections.

"There were some problems between the allies because they could not campaign unitedly. Even other opposition parties were unable show their unity in the election," she told reporters.

As per initial trends, the ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu has garnered substantial votes, pushing arch rival DMK to the second place in the by-polls. The BJP is likely to suffer a defeat in Srirangam. While NDA's key ally PMK kept away from the elections, top leaders of another ally DMDK did not campaign during the run up to the by-polls.

Asked about the party's strategy for the 2016 assembly elections in the backdrop of fissures in the NDA alliance in Tamil Nadu, she said the by-polls have underlined the need for unity between the allies. "I think the by-poll results should make the allies understand that we will not be able to achieve the goal in 2016, if we are not united," she replied.

Alleging that Dravidian parties bribed voters in Srirangam elections, she said that, "Money distribution and muscle power was in full swing in the by-elections, hampering voters to think independently."

Soundararajan also charged that a section of election officers favour ruling parties whenever by-elections are held in the State. On the visit of Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena to India, she said a lasting solution to the Lankan Tamil problem could be found.

PTI