CHENNAI: Ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, an escalating rift has emerged between the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and its ally, the Congress party. This conflict has been triggered by a series of allegations made by certain Congress leaders, particularly those from Virudhunagar, including Member of Parliament Manickam Tagore and party functionary Praveen Chakravarty.

As reported, the DMK leadership now firmly states that they will not hold seat-sharing negotiations with Congress unless concrete action is taken against the two leaders. A senior DMK official expressed, “Our party leadership is not inclined to call the Congress for seat-sharing talks if action is not taken against the two functionaries.” This sentiment reflects a growing frustration within the DMK, particularly regarding Tagore’s recent public criticisms of the party and its leadership.

The friction became evident when Tagore voiced discontent over the Congress’s perceived burden in supporting DMK's past mistakes and that DMK has failed to address grievances within its ranks, including remarks made by a district secretary suggesting Congress could exit the alliance if dissatisfied. A meeting in Madurai saw Congress members demand a greater share in power, further straining relations.

Complicating matters, DMK officials suspect that some Congress members may be exploring alliances with other parties, such as the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) that was founded by actor Vijay. A Congress MP conceded that Tagore's criticisms likely reflect encouragement from party leaders like Rahul Gandhi, suggesting that any shift away from the alliance would need careful preparation to avoid benefiting the rival Bharatiya Janata Party-All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam alliance.

Tensions continue to rise with the DMK remaining resolute on its stance against negotiations without addressing these issues, signaling a challenging road ahead for the coalition as the election approaches. DMK officials believe that while negotiations can resolve issues, continued public criticism could jeopardize the alliance’s integrity and electoral viability. In response, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president Selvaperunthagai indicated that the high command had already warned leaders against public discourse about the alliance and that a five-member committee would soon be meeting to discuss seat-sharing arrangements.