Political Tensions Rise in Tamil Nadu Over Debt Comments
Controversy Surrounds AICC Leader's Remarks
In Tamil Nadu, the financial situation has become a contentious topic, especially after remarks made by AICC leader Praveen Chakravarthy, who has been accused of supporting the BJP. This issue was raised before K. Selvapereunthogai, the president of the Tamil Nadu NCC, by the top leadership of the DMK. Selvapereunthogai condemned Chakravarthy's statements and urged the national leadership of the party to take action against him. Several Congress leaders, including former minister S. Thirunavukkarasar and MPs Jyotimani and Shashikant Senthil, have also expressed their objections to Chakravarthy's comments. He had stated that Tamil Nadu has the highest outstanding debt among all states, claiming that in 2010, Uttar Pradesh's debt was more than double that of Tamil Nadu, and now Tamil Nadu's debt exceeds that of Uttar Pradesh.
Responses and Political Maneuvering
In response to Chakravarthy's remarks, Selvapereunthogai accused the AICC leader of attempting to create discord within the DMK-led alliance in the state. Meanwhile, Thirunavukkarasar emphasized the need for alliances to form a future government at the center. However, some Congress members are advising the party's high command to sever ties with the DMK and consider an alliance with the Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK). Previously, Chakravarthy, who lacks grassroots support within the state Congress, stirred controversy by meeting with Vijay for an extended discussion.
Additionally, it has been reported that KC Venugopal, the Congress General Secretary in Chennai, met with some TVK leaders, indicating a potential parallel communication channel between Congress leaders in Delhi and TVK leaders, sidelining the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC). Despite this, DMK leaders are raising their concerns regarding various developments before the TNCC, with Selvapereunthogai confirming his party's alliance with the DMK for the 2026 assembly elections.
DMK's Stance on Coalition Demands
The DMK has rejected demands for a significant increase in power-sharing and seat allocations, while party leaders have expressed concerns over these requests. According to party sources, they can only offer a maximum of three seats if the alliance wins, completely dismissing the possibility of power-sharing. It has also been suggested that if Congress is dissatisfied with the seat distribution, they may exit the alliance. However, unlike leaders such as Chodankar and Chakravarthy, who have no ties to regional interests, most local Congress leaders currently favor remaining in the alliance and do not view TVK as a viable alternative partner for electoral success.