'Trend of ruling parties losing in UP, Punjab can extend to TN', says MK Stalin

DMK today said the trend of ruling parties losing out in states like Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Uttarakhand could extend to Tamil Nadu in the April 12 R K Nagar bypoll.

Party's Working President and Leader of Opposition in state assembly M K Stalin congratulated the winners of the elections held in the five states of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur, where the fight was largely confined to BJP and DMK's ally in Tamil Nadu -- Congress.

Citing trends, Stalin said people had largely voted against the ruling parties in these states --SP in UP, SAD-BJP combine in Punjab and Congress in Uttarakhand, even as there was a close fight between BJP and Congress in Goa and Manipur.

"People having largely voted against ruling parties in these states, showing that those in Tamil Nadu are prepared to vote against (ruling) AIADMK in the forthcoming (R K Nagar) elections," he told reporters.

DMK will be facing arch rival AIADMK in the April 12 bypoll to R K Nagar here, necessitated by the death of sitting member and Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa in December last.

Stalin had already exuded confidence of his party's winning prospects in the bypoll.