A viral video from a recent public event shows Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi declining a traditional shawl offered by DMK leader and minister T. Mano Thangaraj, in full view of the audience and cameras. The moment, captured on stage, has been widely interpreted as a visible sign of underlying tensions within the Congress and DMK ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
In the clip circulating on social media, Mano Thangaraj, a senior DMK figure and former minister from Kanyakumari district, approaches Rahul Gandhi with a shawl — a common gesture of respect and welcome in South Indian political and cultural events. Instead of accepting it graciously, Rahul is seen stepping back or turning away without taking the offering.
The rift in the Congress-DMK partnership , but frictions have surfaced periodically — over seat-sharing expectations, campaign strategies, and perceived slights. Rahul Gandhi’s recent public remarks in the state have sometimes drawn mixed reactions, including translations or interpretations that raised eyebrows among alliance partners.
யார்டா நீ!
திமுக அமைச்சர் ஜி..
அப்போ என் பக்கத்திலேயே வராத.. pic.twitter.com/dS9J0iZwDk— Maridhas (@MaridhasAnswers) April 20, 2026
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