Doubts Rise Over Cong Continuing In DMK Alliance
Chennai: Doubts once again emerged on Wednesday over the Congress’ continuation of the DMK-led alliance in the state after Manickam Tagore, the national party’s whip in the Lok Sabha, scolded its State allies – VCK, MDMK, CPI and CPM – for demanding action against AICC president Praveen Chakravarty for his statements against the DMK government and for his meeting with Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) president Vijay.
Although Chakravarthy’s last remarks also sparked strong opposition from some Congress leaders, including TNCC chief K Selvaperunthagai and Parliament members Jothimani and Sashikanth Senthil, Tagore pardoned them all but in a message on X attacked the leaders of the alliance parties and accused them of overstepping boundaries and interfering in the internal affairs of another party. He also wondered whether other party leaders would call out such behavior if they were told what to do.
With several Congress leaders, including AICC in-charge of Tamil Nadu Girish Chodankar, constantly making repeated statements clearly aimed at attacking the DMK, and Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi personally calling TVK president Vijay from abroad following the stampede in Karur on September 27, speculations were rife that the Congress was turning to the new party on the political horizon and might sever ties with the DMK.
However, local Congress leaders, including Selvaperunthagai, denied the rumours, besides soothing the ruffled feathers of DMK leaders in various ways. Selvaperunthagai even said that Chakaravarty is a stooge of the BJP and is a leader of no importance in his party despite officially holding the post of ‘Professional Congress and Data Analytics president’.
Some other leaders also opposed his unsavory remarks on the State economy but came under attack from Tagore. Tagore named the leaders and told them that differences within the alliance should be resolved internally and not publicly. Tagore said such comments would only weaken the combined strength of the anti-BJP-RSS forces and dishonor the party workers.
Ever since Congress leaders like Chodankar and Chakravarty, who had nothing to do with the State politically, started talking openly about the need to have a share in power or get more seats in the elections, DMK leaders became agitated about it and their sentiments were regularly conveyed to Selvaperunthagai. But now Tagore, the Tamil Nadu MP, had joined the brigade, expressing his anger not only at the DMK but also at other alliance partners.
Such a development led to speculation in political gossip that the Congress would leave the alliance and enter the TVK camp. Tagore had named all DMK alliance leaders who spoke against Chakarvarty and accused them of overstepping boundaries and violating alliance ethics, further worsening the unstable situation in the alliance.
As some observers have pointed out, without the approval of the party high command, Tagore would not have suddenly joined the debate and this could perhaps be a way for the Congress to lay the groundwork for severing ties with the DMK.
