AICC leaders hold talks with TNCC delegation on poll alliance in State

As the chorus of a section of the Congress demanding a pre-poll agreement with the DMK to share power in Tamil Nadu grows, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leaders including Rahul Gandhi and KC Venugopal on Saturday met leaders of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) and Puducherry unit in New Delhi and sought their views.

All India Congress Committee (AICC) leaders listened to the views expressed by the party’s MLAs and Tamil Nadu MPs one by one but did not announce any decision. The party high command will make the final call.

Speaking to reporters in New Delhi after the meeting, party general secretary Mr. Venugopal said the high command listened to the views of leaders one by one and discussed ways to strengthen the party in Tamil Nadu.

“The party has unanimously approved AICC president and Opposition leader (Rahul Gandhi) to take a decision. Regarding the election, the high command will take an appropriate decision in due course, in line with the ideology of the party and the interest of the people of Tamil Nadu,” he said.

He also said that the high command has given a clear instruction to senior leaders to maintain discipline and refrain from making alliance-related statements on social media. “They need to speak with one voice,” he said.

A leader who attended the meeting said he wanted the high command to convey to DMK leaders that “the sentiments of Congress members in the state and their demands for more seats and share of power should be respected”.

“However, there is no change in the Congress party’s decision to join the DMK in the Assembly elections,” said a leader who attended the meeting.

A total of 42 leaders, including MPs, MPs and former TNCC chairmen and secretaries, attended the meeting.

Another leader said that despite the Congress pushing for power sharing, none of its leaders have spoken openly about breaking the alliance with the DMK. “Some people think that the party can contest in more seats if it makes an alliance with actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam,” he said.

Party sources said the DMK leadership was not in favor of sharing power with alliance partners and conveyed its decision to Mr. Gandhi through former Union Minister and DMK MP A. Raja during his recent visit to Gudalur.