TNCC President Meets Kharge to Address Alliance Tensions with DMK
In a significant political development, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president K Selvaperunthagai met All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Mallikarjun Kharge in Bengaluru on Monday. The meeting centered on submitting a detailed report concerning the alleged discord within the Congress-DMK alliance, which has been exacerbated by recent remarks from Congress MP B Manickam Tagore.
Report Highlights Controversies Over Power-Sharing Demands
Selvaperunthagai presented a comprehensive account of the controversies that have emerged over the past three days, primarily driven by Tagore's persistent demands for power-sharing. The MP has been vocal in seeking the Madurai North seat and has accused DMK leaders of disrespecting the Congress party. Additionally, Tagore claimed that Congress has historically shouldered the burden of DMK's mistakes, statements that have not been well-received by the DMK leadership.
After the meeting, Selvaperunthagai informed reporters, "I submitted a report on the controversies created in the last three days regarding the alliance issue in Tamil Nadu. Our party president will take the final call." This underscores the high command's role in resolving the escalating tensions.
TNCC Urges Action Against Tagore to Preserve Alliance
Sources within the TNCC revealed that Selvaperunthagai urged Kharge to initiate disciplinary action against Tagore. He conveyed the DMK leadership's dissatisfaction with Tagore's remarks, warning that continued such statements could strain the alliance. The report submitted included a plea for intervention from the high command to enforce party discipline and maintain alliance harmony.
Before departing for Bengaluru, Selvaperunthagai issued an indirect warning to party functionaries at the Chennai airport, cautioning them against public commentary on alliance matters. He stated, "Only the AICC leadership will speak about the alliance in public. Others should refrain from commenting. Both the AICC and TNCC leadership are clear that functionaries should not speak about alliance issues in public." He further emphasized, "Our leader Rahul Gandhi has made it clear that none except the leadership should speak about the alliance. Are there anyone bigger than Rahul and Kharge?"
Background: Tagore's Meetings and Resolutions
This development follows a meeting held by Tagore in Madurai, where Congress functionaries passed resolutions demanding a share in power, additional assembly seats, and 30% representation in local body elections. A similar resolution was adopted in Tirupattur, highlighting grassroots pressure for greater influence within the alliance.
When questioned about these resolutions, Selvaperunthagai claimed unawareness, indicating a potential disconnect between local actions and central party directives. The situation underscores the delicate balance within the Congress-DMK partnership as both parties navigate internal and external pressures ahead of upcoming elections.
