As the Tamil Nadu assembly elections loom, political tensions are rising between the ruling party DMK and its ally, the Indian National Congress, primarily over power sharing. The atmosphere grew tenser following Chief Minister M.K. Stalin's assertion of 'no power sharing', although Congress publicly maintains there's no issue within the alliance.
Congress Clarifies
Congress election in-charge Girish Chodankar clarified that a five-member committee has been established to conduct alliance talks. This committee will discuss and report back to the high command, which will make the final decision. He emphasized that until the report is delivered, no one should make public statements regarding the alliance or power sharing.
When questioned about the perceived discord after such a long-standing alliance, he responded, 'There's no problem; we're simply waiting for clarity.' Congress noted that no formal communication has been received regarding DMK's denial of power sharing, pointing out that clarity would only come post-discussion.
Venugopal's Arrival Stirs Speculation
Amidst this, Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal arrived in Chennai. He will be participating in marches, first in Puducherry and then joining the Tamil Nadu Congress march. Congressman Vijay Vasan stated that clarity will emerge post-February 22, when the committee forms and discussions commence. AICC will ultimately make the final decision.
Manickam Tagore's 'No Fear' Message
While DMK's demand for action sparked discussions, Congress MP Manickam Tagore shared lines from poet Subramania Bharati on social media: 'No fear, no fear, no fear at all.' This post was interpreted as carrying a political message.
During an airport media interaction, Tagore emphasized that there is no discord between him and Tamil Nadu Congress President Selvaperunthagai. 'We are like brothers, there's no major issue,' he reassured, clarifying his social media post was simply a normal good morning message.
Criticism of BJP
Tagore accused BJP leaders of making derogatory remarks against women and demanded stern action. He affirmed Congress's commitment to fighting for Tamil Nadu's interests, expressing confidence in the state's electoral victory.
Currently, Congress is attempting to show alliance stability, but ambiguity over power sharing persists. Once formal discussions commence after February 22, the direction of seat allocation and government participation will become clear.
Political jockeying in Tamil Nadu may intensify in the coming days. Despite publicly maintaining composure, behind-the-scenes negotiations remain fervent.
