BJP, AIADMK, DMDK Boycott Erode East By-Election
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Tamil Nadu has announced a boycott of the upcoming Erode East Assembly by-election, scheduled for February 5th, 2025. This decision aligns the BJP with the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), who have already declared similar boycotts. The by-election is necessitated by the death of Indian National Congress (INC) leader and former Union Minister EVKS Elangovan on December 14th, 2024. Elangovan had himself won the seat in a 2023 by-election following the death of his son.

In a statement on X, BJP Tamil Nadu State President K Annamalai attributed the boycott to alleged electoral malpractice by the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). Annamalai cited the 2023 by-election as an example, claiming the DMK “blatantly violated all electoral norms,” mistreating and oppressing the public. He described the upcoming election as a “by-election for a previous by-election,” highlighting the ongoing concerns.

Following discussions within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Annamalai confirmed the BJP and its allies’ collective decision to boycott the by-election. The BJP intends to focus its efforts on the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, aiming to oust the DMK from power. Annamalai characterized the DMK’s governance as a “disaster model,” citing widespread corruption, deteriorating law and order, high unemployment, and a lack of safety for women and other vulnerable groups. He accused the DMK of violating constitutional principles and claimed that the public’s suffering under their rule has led to widespread rejection of their self-proclaimed “Dravidian Model.”

The ruling DMK, meanwhile, is fielding VC Chandrakumar in an attempt to retain the Erode East seat and strengthen its regional dominance. The opposition parties’ coordinated boycott presents a significant challenge to the DMK’s electoral strategy.

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