A surprise meeting between a senior All India Congress Committee (AICC) functionary and the president of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has sent shockwaves through the political landscape of Tamil Nadu, creating fresh uncertainty around the stability of the long-standing Congress-DMK alliance.
An Unauthorised Meeting Sparks Confusion
The controversy erupted on Friday when Praveen Chakravarthy, the chairman of the All India Professionals Congress, held a private meeting with TVK president and actor-politician Vijay at his residence in Chennai's Foreshore Estate. TVK general secretary for election management, Aadhav Arjuna, was also present. This move, undertaken without informing the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) leadership, has triggered significant confusion and discontent within the state Congress unit and its principal ally, the DMK.
Senior TNCC leaders expressed their dismay, stating they were completely unaware of the meeting's purpose or authorization. "We are not sure in what capacity Praveen met Vijay and whether he had the approval of the party high command," revealed a senior TNCC functionary. Voices from within the party have even demanded disciplinary action against Chakravarthy for conducting the meeting without proper sanction.
Timing Raises Eyebrows and Fuels Speculation
The timing of this clandestine meeting is particularly sensitive. It comes just days after a five-member Congress panel, formed specifically for seat-sharing talks, met with Chief Minister and DMK president M.K. Stalin on December 3. That meeting was publicly projected as a move to reaffirm the alliance and quell rumours of Congress exploring ties with other parties like TVK ahead of the 2026 assembly elections.
TNCC chief K. Selvaperunthagai had asserted that the panel's meeting with Stalin had successfully put to rest speculation about Congress switching sides. However, Chakravarthy's subsequent rendezvous with Vijay has reopened those very questions, casting a shadow over the Congress party's intentions and internal discipline.
Adding to the intrigue, a day before the Congress panel met Stalin, Praveen Chakravarthy had posted a message on social media indirectly praising Vijay by referring to the massive turnouts at his political rallies.
Political Fallout and Theories Abound
The political fallout from this episode is multifaceted. While both Chakravarthy and TVK leaders remained tight-lipped, Congress leaders from Tamil Nadu were quick to criticise the move. One theory suggests Chakravarthy, who was denied a ticket in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, might be acting to create confusion within the DMK-Congress alliance. Another leader speculated he could have been acting at the behest of a senior national leader, albeit without official high command approval.
Political analysts offer two stark possibilities. "If Praveen met Vijay without AICC approval, there is a possibility of him moving to TVK," said political consultant R. Deepak. "Conversely, if the AICC was aware, this could be a pressure tactic by the Congress to extract more seats from the DMK during future negotiations."
The DMK, for its part, appeared outwardly unfazed but pointedly suggested that the Congress needs to manage its internal affairs better. "Congress should put its house in order as soon as possible," remarked a senior DMK leader, highlighting the strain the incident has caused between the allies.
This incident underscores the fragile nature of political alliances in Tamil Nadu and highlights the challenges the Congress faces in maintaining a united front while navigating its partnership with the dominant DMK ahead of crucial electoral battles.
