A significant political controversy has erupted in Tamil Nadu after a senior Congress party official made critical remarks about the state's financial health, putting the spotlight on the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government just ahead of a crucial election cycle.
The Spark: A Data-Driven Critique on Social Media
The row began when Praveen Chakravarty, who serves as the chairman of the Professionals’ Congress and Data Analytics department, responded to a post by DMK MP Kanimozhi. Kanimozhi had praised her party for transforming Tamil Nadu into an advanced and developed state. Chakravarty countered this claim with hard data, posting a comparative graph on platform X.
He stated that Tamil Nadu now has the highest outstanding debt of all Indian states, a position previously held by Uttar Pradesh. He highlighted that while Uttar Pradesh had more than double Tamil Nadu's debt in 2010, the situation has now reversed. Chakravarty further pointed out that Tamil Nadu's interest burden is the third highest in the country and that its debt-to-GDP ratio remains elevated compared to pre-pandemic levels, calling the overall situation "alarming."
Immediate Backlash from Ally and Party Colleagues
The comments drew a sharp and swift response from the DMK, which is in a crucial alliance with the Congress for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections and the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly polls. State Industries Minister Dr. TRB Rajaa led the charge, dismissing the critique on X. He advised people to avoid engaging with "private agendas" and to focus on a larger war against forces trying to curtail Tamil Nadu's growth, ending his post with the internet slang "IYKYK" (If You Know, You Know).
Perhaps more notably, Chakravarty faced criticism from within his own party. Senior Congress leader and former Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram publicly termed the assessment as incorrect. Chidambaram argued that it is wrong to judge a state's economy solely by its total debt, noting that the debt of all developed nations increases annually and that this is a normal fiscal occurrence.
Political Fallout and Electoral Implications
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was quick to capitalize on the internal conflict within the opposition alliance. BJP spokesperson CR Kesavan mocked the Congress for scoring a "self-goal" and exposing the "disastrous failure" of the DMK government. He questioned whether Congress leader Rahul Gandhi concurred with this damning view of their ally.
In damage control mode, the Tamil Nadu Congress unit moved to firmly distance itself from Chakravarty's remarks. State Congress President K. Selvaperunthagai asserted that the views did not represent the voice of the party and that the alliance with the DMK remained "as strong as an iron fortress." He accused Chakravarty of making "incorrect and motivated" statements and suggested he was echoing BJP talking points.
Political analysts noted that Chakravarty's comments do not reflect the stance of the state Congress unit, which remains firmly committed to the DMK-led alliance. The controversy underscores the delicate balance within political partnerships, especially when one partner holds power at the state level. The DMK government is currently managing a substantial debt, reported to be around ₹9.21 lakh crore, a point it had itself criticized the previous AIADMK government for.
As Tamil Nadu gears up for the 2026 assembly elections, where the DMK-Congress alliance will fight together, such public spats over governance and economics are likely to be weaponized by political opponents, making internal cohesion paramount for the ruling coalition.
