Tensions Rise Between DMK and Congress Parties in Tamil Nadu Ahead of Assembly Elections

Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president Selvaperunthagai on Monday said he met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge after being summoned to discuss the action to be taken against Congress MP Manickam Tagore and party leader Praveen Chakravarthy. The DMK leadership also suspects that the Congress may be keeping its options open, with some leaders reportedly keen on exploring an alliance with the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) launched by actor Vijay. Tagore’s repeated assertions, despite Chief Minister and DMK president MK Stalin rejecting the idea of a coalition government, have stirred political circles in Tamil Nadu, with many questioning whether he has the tacit backing of the party leadership to raise the issue. Selvaperunthagai said the meeting was held at Kharge’s request and focused on the issues surrounding the two leaders. “I met the Congress president as I was called regarding the action needed to be taken against Manickam Tagore and Praveen Chakravarthy," he said, without sharing further details about the outcome of the discussions. This comes at a time when, ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, relations between the ruling DMK and its ally Congress have come under strain following a series of accusations against the Dravidian party by a section of Congress leaders, particularly Virudhunagar MP Manickam Tagore and party functionary Praveen Chakravarty. The DMK leadership, it is reliably learnt, appears to have prepared itself for the outcome, whatever it may be. “Our party leadership is not inclined to call the Congress for seat-sharing talks if action is not taken against the two functionaries," a senior leader in the DMK told The Hindu on Monday. “Our leader is upset. We are convinced that Mr. Tagore would not be repeatedly targeting us and demanding a share in power without the backing of the Congress high command. How can we be expected to sit with them for seat-sharing talks after Mr. Tagore has criticised our leadership and the party?" the leader said. Earlier on Sunday, Tagore said the Congress had borne the brunt of the DMK’s mistakes in 2014 and alleged that the Dravidian party had failed to act against a district secretary in Madurai and a minister, who reportedly went so far as to suggest that the Congress was free to exit the DMK alliance. The Madurai South district unit of the Congress, which Tagore attended, also passed a resolution seeking a share in power.