The main opposition party of Tamil Nadu, which has ruled the state many times, has lost deposit in the by-poll that happened in a constituency in Chennai, which is considered to be its stronghold.



Though its leaders defended the defeat by saying that both TTV Dhinakaran and the AIADMK pumped in money to get votes, the disappointment is obvious and understandable too.

Adding more to the agony was a charge by chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and deputy CM O Panneerselvam, that DMK working president M K Stalin had entered into a "tacit understanding" with Dhinakaran unmindful of his party's performance as his sole intention was to target the AIADMK government.

Speaking to reporters at the DMK headquarters Anna Arivalayam on Sunday night, Stalin denied the charge and said only some ministers were in understanding with Dhinakaran and helped him win the by-election.

He said it was not a defeat for his party, but a Himalayan defeat for the Election Commission of India, which remained silent when voters were bribed even on the polling day. "Despite the high court stating that those bribing voters should be dealt with an iron hand, the police and the EC remained silent", he claimed.