CHENNAI: Senior AIADMK leader C Ve Shanmugam on Wednesday described the party’s defeat in the Madurantakam and Dharapuram bypolls as its “worst defeat” and called on the leadership to introspect, consult all stakeholders and take collective decisions to revive and strengthen the party.Shanmugam said the leadership should convene a general council meeting to address differences of opinion, restore the confidence of cadres and bring everyone together. He also offered his support for efforts to rebuild the party.“The party’s defeat in the bypolls was painful. We are ready to extend our support to the party leadership to revive the party,” he told reporters after meeting some of his supporters at his Chennai office.“AIADMK lost the election. It was its worst defeat. The party leadership should examine the factors behind the defeat. We are insisting on a general council meeting to take collective decisions to revive the party. All the cadres need is confidence, and we want the leadership to provide that confidence so the party can recover and return to power,” he said.However, he declined to comment on a series of discreet meetings with senior leaders S P Velumani, Natham Viswanathan and K P Anbalagan, as well as supporters, over the past couple of days.He said the party’s poor performance, which pushed it to third place in both constituencies, was painful for its cadres and leaders.“It is a fact that there are differences of opinion with the party leadership. Everyone is aware of this. The leadership should consult everyone and take decisions to revive and strengthen the party,” he said, reiterating his willingness to support collective efforts.Shanmugam said those holding party posts and responsibilities should take the initiative to convene the meeting, as he did not hold any party post.“I am not holding any party post. Those who hold posts and responsibilities should take the initiative to convene the general council meeting and discuss the issues before taking decisions,” he said.Stressing that the party could recover if its cadres regained confidence, he said there was still public support for and expectation from the AIADMK. If the leadership took appropriate measures and united the party, it could bounce back and restore “MGR and Amma aatchi” (the rule of M G Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa), he said.Shanmugam also welcomed the absence of cash distribution to voters in the bypolls, describing it as a positive change.
