Even as the high drama unfolding in Karnataka reached its climax with the resignation of two-day old Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa, many political leaders in Tamil Nadu rejoiced over the event. With the BJP’s southward push coming to an abrupt end following the hung assembly results in Karnataka, the intervention of the Supreme Court and the role of the Congress party received praise from Tamil Nadu.
In a tweet on Saturday, Leader of the Opposition and DMK Working President MK Stalin wrote, “The systematic abuse of Governor's office and wanton misuse of Speaker's powers by the BJP in other states, including TamilNadu, stand exposed from recent events in Karnataka. Hope this setback helps the BJP realise its mistake of propping up an illegitimate govt in TamilNadu.”
Democracy in Karnataka has been saved by the actions of the Supreme Court. I extend my congratulations to @hd_kumaraswamy and @INCIndia. May this herald the coming together of secular parties for the upcoming elections.
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) May 19, 2018
The systematic abuse of Governor's office and wanton misuse of Speaker's powers by the BJP in other states, including TamilNadu, stand exposed from recent events in Karnataka. Hope this setback helps the BJP realise its mistake of propping up an illegitimate govt in TamilNadu.
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) May 19, 2018
MK Stalin later called Kumaraswamy on the phone and conveyed his wishes. Though the two leaders will be on the opposite side when it comes to the Cauvery issue, for now they are patting each other's back for defeating BJP.
Speaking to TNM, DMK Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi said, "The Supreme Court has done justice, it has intervened at the right moment and democracy has been restored. It also has shown that it is a big victory to Rahul Gandhi. He has shown that he is a very astute politician. It has always been that the BJP could do anything and get away with it. Whatever the BJP wanted, the Governor did it for them. And it's not just their victory. This is a victory for Congress and JD(S) as well as all the Opposition parties who were supporting the Congress and JD(S) in spirit.
Actor turned politician Kamal Haasan tweeted, “Let the democratic light born in Karnataka spread all over the country. Long live Bharatham the grand sacred country.”
கர்நாடகத்தில் தோன்றியிருக்கும் ஜனநாயக ஒளி தேசமெங்கும் பரவட்டும். வாழிய பாரத மணித்திருநாடு.
— Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) May 19, 2018
Following its December 2017 debacle at the RK Nagar bye-elections, the BJP has been widely panned for its poor electoral performance and slammed for stirring up one controversy after another in TN.
On Tuesday, even as the Karnataka legislative assembly leads were coming in, Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam was in a hurry to let his loyalties to the BJP known to the world.
In a letter, he wrote, “On this cheerful occasion, I wish to express my warm greetings and felicitations for the significant victory of BJP in Karnataka Assembly Elections, bellwethering a grand entry to South India.”
On this cheerful occasion, I wish to express my warm greetings and felicitations for the significant victory of BJP in Karnataka Assembly Elections, bellwethering a grand entry to South India. @AmitShah pic.twitter.com/rW6YphhI7S
— O Panneerselvam (@OfficeOfOPS) May 15, 2018
Panneerselvam received a lot of flak on social media for this letter.