DMK defeat its own workers’ doing: Moorthy

Madurai: A dejected former minister P Moorthy on Thursday said DMK’s electoral setback was caused by its own cadre, while taking a swipe at supporters who applauded the remark without understanding its context.At a party function organised in connection with the birth anniversary of former chief minister M Karunanidhi, Moorthy said, “People have taught us a good lesson. First of all, thank you all for that lesson. The reason the DMK fortress was destroyed is DMK workers themselves.”When some cadres cheered the statement, Moorthy continued in a sarcastic tone and said the party had delivered what people sought in the locality. “Who else has done so much good for this locality? Whatever the people asked for was delivered. It is not that the basic needs of the people were neglected,” he said.Referring to the election outcome, he added: “Instead of voting based on the good work done, you have voted based on your own decision.” He, however, said there was no point dwelling on the verdict. “People know everything. They voted knowing fully well what they were doing,” he said.Moorthy said there was no need to discuss politics or the past at the event and that he had attended only to mark Karunanidhi’s birth anniversary. Calling on party workers to focus on organisational work, Moorthy said they should not worry about other developments and should continue carrying out tasks assigned by the party leadership.“If the DMK spirit exists, nobody can destroy this movement,” he said, adding that the party had survived many challenges in the past and would overcome the present setback as well.