Rift in INDI alliance? Congress leader Praveen Chakravarty says DMK-ruled Tamil Nadu’s debt is higher than UP’s
What triggered the debate?
The controversy began when Congress functionary Praveen Chakravarty posted on X that Tamil Nadu’s debt situation was “alarming”. His comment came in response to DMK MP Kanimozhi’s statement that the state has grown under the DMK government despite its debt.
“In 2010, UP had more than twice the debt of TN. Now TN’s debt is more than UP,” Praveen said.
“TN’s interest burden (%) is the 3rd highest after Punjab and Haryana. TN’s debt/gross domestic product is still much higher than pre-covid levels. TN’s debt situation is worrying,” he said.
The post quickly became a political flashpoint.
DMK hit back
DMK leaders rejected Praveen’s claims, saying Tamil Nadu remains one of the strongest performers among Indian states. DMK spokesperson Salem Dharanidharan said that in terms of economic indicators, Tamil Nadu is far ahead of Uttar Pradesh and some other states.
“Tamil Nadu’s per capita GDP (average approximate income of an individual) has increased exponentially compared to UP (or India itself),” he said.
Former DMK MP Dr S Senthil Kumar went a step further and suggested political motives behind the remarks.
“Congress is looking for alternatives. National and state leaders are under pressure from some TN groups. Some never learn,” Senthil told X.
Congress is making progress
The criticism did not end with the DMK. Leaders within the Congress also tried to draw a line between the party and Praveen’s comparison.
Congress MP Jothimani said it is not right to compare Tamil Nadu with Uttar Pradesh. He said Tamil Nadu was far ahead in infrastructure and development and could not be brought at par with UP economically.
The reactions signaled unrest within the Congress, especially since the comments came from a party member in a state where it is heavily dependent on the DMK as an ally.
BJP calls this a self-goal and questions Rahul Gandhi
Meanwhile, the BJP welcomed Praveen’s statement and used the moment to attack the DMK and its leadership.
BJP spokesperson Kesavan mocked the Congress by comparing Chakravarty’s statement to a personal target and asked whether Lok Sabha leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi agreed with the party member’s comment on DMK.
“The Congress is carrying out a shocking self-objective to expose the disastrous pattern of failure of the DMK Government. Does Rahul Gandhi agree with this view that the DMK Government has completely failed the people of Tamil Nadu? Do the Tamilnadu CM and Deputy CM agree with this damning view of their ally Congress party that the DMK Government has hit rock bottom and ruined the economy of Tamilnadu?” Kesavan said in a post on X.
Moreover, the BJP leader compared the DMK government to a “directionless car”. “The disastrous DMK Government is like a directionless car. DMK’s unjust, insensitive misrule has been one of the darkest chapters in the history of Tamil Nadu,” he wrote.
BJP’s Tamil Nadu leader K Annamalai also attacked the DMK and its alliance partner Congress. “Lies are reaching effortlessly into the DMK and especially the Gopalapuram family, who holds a PhD in Lie-telling. It is welcome that a member from a data-understanding partner within the INDI Alliance has publicly called out these distortions.
In just five years, the DMK has doubled Tamil Nadu’s debt while conveniently using borrowing to cover deficits and project exaggerated growth stories.
But the real question is: What is actually going on between DMK and Congress? “The public debate of the UPA era seems to be returning.”
INDI Alliance tensions come into focus again
With allies publicly bristling and rivals widening the cracks, the debt debate has become more than a numbers game. It has put the internal equations within the INDI Alliance under the spotlight and raised new questions about coordination, messaging and trust between partners against the ruling NDA at the centre.
(Inputs from TOI and institutions)
