Karunanidhi accepts defeat, wishes BJP but not AIADMK

Chennai, May 16 (IANS) DMK president M. Karunanidhi Friday said he accepted his party's defeat "with bowed head".

In a statement, Karunanidhi said he has conveyed his party's wishes to BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi for its "massive nationwide electoral victory".

But he said the party had seen "defeats and also mega victories earlier".

However, Karunanidhi did not congratulate the AIADMK, though political niceties demand so.

"But it is part of the political culture of the Dravidian parties in Tamil Nadu. Both -- AIADMK and DMK -- will not wish the victorious party after an election," a Congress party member told IANS.

He said in other parts of the country, a losing party applauds the winner but it is not so in Tamil Nadu.

Meanwhile, the state unit of the Communist Party of India (CPI) lauded all the victorious candidates.

In a statement issued here, the CPI also hailed Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and AIADMK general secretary J. Jayalalithaa for the party's poll victory in the state.