Key Facts
The Congress party on Tuesday responded sharply to the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's (DMK) criticism of Rahul Gandhi for allying with the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). Two Congress ministers in the TVK-led government—S Rajesh Kumar and P Viswanathan—issued a statement asking the DMK to introspect on its defeat in the recent Tamil Nadu assembly elections rather than targeting the Congress leader.
Details of the Political Spat
The war of words began after DMK's mouthpiece 'Murasoli' ridiculed Rahul Gandhi, questioning his 'lecturing unity' at the INDIA bloc meeting while allegedly using underhand tactics to prevent the alliance from coming to power in states. The DMK accused Congress of backstabbing the party with Gandhi's blessings.
In response, Kumar and Viswanathan said the DMK has been crossing all boundaries by hurling abuses at the Congress and its leaders. They noted that the Congress won five seats in the 234-member assembly and chose to support the TVK, which remains firm on secular ideology.
Impact on Tamil Nadu Politics
The two Congress ministers emphasized that TVK chief minister C Joseph Vijay has demonstrated a firm stance on democracy, social justice, secularism, and state rights by forming a government with Congress, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India, and Indian Union Muslim League (IUML). They pointed out that the DMK has never shared power with allies despite winning elections with their support.
“In 2006, the DMK did not even touch the 100-seat mark. It formed the government solely due to the Congress. Yet, the DMK did not accommodate the Congress in the cabinet,” the statement read. The ministers also highlighted that TVK, which won 108 seats, gave two ministerial portfolios to Congress, one each to VCK and IUML, and offered the same to communist parties had they wished to join.
What Readers Should Know
- The Congress leaders asked the DMK to identify why minority and Scheduled Caste communities did not vote for them, instead of blaming alliance parties.
- They warned that if the DMK continues with 'vulgar criticisms', it may never return to power and could even lose its opposition status.
- DMK spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai hit back, calling Congress leaders a 'bunch of backstabbers' and stating that Rahul Gandhi's sole trait is weakening opposition unity.
FAQ
Why did Congress ally with TVK in Tamil Nadu?
Congress allied with TVK to prevent the BJP from indirectly ruling Tamil Nadu, and to uphold secular ideology.
How many seats did TVK win in the 2026 Tamil Nadu assembly elections?
TVK won 108 seats in the 234-member assembly, emerging as the single-largest party.
What did DMK's mouthpiece 'Murasoli' say about Rahul Gandhi?
'Murasoli' accused Rahul Gandhi of using underhand tactics to weaken the INDIA bloc and backstabbing the DMK.
How many ministerial portfolios did Congress get in the TVK government?
Congress received two ministerial portfolios in the TVK-led government.
Source: www.hindustantimes.com