In a strong move to quell growing speculation about the stability of their political partnership in Tamil Nadu, the Congress party's top official for the state has publicly reaffirmed the DMK as its "most trusted ally." The statement comes amid rumours of potential upheavals and parallel negotiations ahead of the upcoming elections.
Congress Seeks to Firm Up DMK Alliance
AICC in-charge for Tamil Nadu, Girish Chodankar, made the significant declaration during a media interaction in Chennai on Saturday. He explicitly dismissed widespread rumours that the Congress was engaged in alliance talks with other political parties in the state. Chodankar emphasized that the national party's focus remains squarely on solidifying its long-standing partnership with the ruling DMK.
He provided a timeline to back his claims, revealing that the Congress had formed a poll committee specifically for this purpose about one-and-a-half months ago. This committee, he noted, met with Chief Minister and DMK president M.K. Stalin a month ago to formally convey the party's interest in continuing the alliance. "We informed the Chief Minister that we want the alliance first," Chodankar stated, expressing confidence that the seat-sharing issue would be resolved soon.
Dismissing Rumours and Internal Matters
Chodankar directly addressed the speculation that followed a meeting between Congress functionary Praveen Chakravarthy and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president Vijay. This meeting had led to conjecture that the Congress was engaging with TVK to strengthen its bargaining position with the DMK. The AICC in-charge firmly denied any such talks with the TVK leadership.
On the question of Congress boycotting an event by MDMK general secretary Vaiko, Chodankar justified the decision. He pointed to the presence of a photograph of slain LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran on the event's banner as the reason, stating that the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president had taken the correct step.
Regarding internal discord highlighted by Congress MP S. Jothimani's social media post against the TNCC leadership, Chodankar framed it as a private matter between two party functionaries. He confirmed that action had been recommended against them and reiterated that party affairs should not be discussed in public.
Rebuilding and Confidence in Seat-Sharing
Chodankar struck a confident note on the crucial issue of seat-sharing, a perennial point of discussion in the alliance. "I wonder which party would say 'no' to Congress's demand for power-sharing," he remarked. He added rhetorically that if the Congress did not seek a share of power, it might as well declare itself a non-governmental organization (NGO).
He also provided an update on the party's organizational health in Tamil Nadu, stating that the TNCC is undergoing a rebuilding process starting from the booth level. The fact that the party is already receiving applications from prospective candidates, he argued, is a sign of a vibrant and active organization.
With these clear statements, the Congress leadership has attempted to project unity and purpose within its Tamil Nadu unit and reinforce its commitment to the DMK-led alliance, aiming to present a consolidated front as political preparations intensify.
