The Congress party has stepped up its demand for a share in governance within the DMK-led alliance in Tamil Nadu, with senior leaders Manickam Tagore and Praveen Chakravarty escalating their public assertions on power-sharing, seat allocation, and alliance respect.
Amid continuing friction, a resolution was passed at a Congress Working Committee meeting chaired by Manickam Tagore, formally reiterating the party’s demand for participation in government. The resolution stressed the need to provide Congress a share in governance, allocate a larger number of Assembly seats, and ensure 30% representation in local body institutions.
This renewed push comes despite Chief Minister MK Stalin having earlier rejected the idea of power-sharing, maintaining that there would be no division of executive authority within the alliance. However, Congress leaders have continued pressing the issue in recent weeks.
Addressing the meeting, Manickam Tagore underscored that the party’s demand was rooted in dignity and alliance parity.
“All we ask for is respect and love. The DMK ministers’ talk hurts. Rahul Gandhi calls the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister his brother. Similarly, we expect respect from them. But the ministers are saying that if the Congress can come if it wants, if not let it go. They are talking aggressively about the alliance. All this hurts.”
He further stated that Congress had stood by the alliance despite political costs.
“We are with you and have been carrying the old burden for the mistakes you have made. For us, all we ask for is respect.”
Tagore also criticized the lack of disciplinary action over remarks made by a DMK district secretary.
“The DMK district secretary’s speech is saddening. It has been 20 days since we demanded action against him. Even now, no action has been taken. That is why other district secretaries are also speaking. I am not one to sit idly by and watch this. If we are attacked, we will attack back.”
Reiterating the grievance, he said: “As far as we are concerned, some people are making mistakes. What I mean is, the speech made by Thalapathi while being a district secretary is something that causes regret… it has been about 20 days. No action has been taken, and he hasn’t even expressed regret.”
He warned that Congress would respond politically if provoked.
“If we are not given respect, we will hit back; we will respond in the same language. So, if you give respect to Congress workers, we will give respect – that’s all.”
Tagore also downplayed the importance of electoral posts compared to party loyalty. He said, “If we are not given respect, we will hit back; we will respond in the same language. So, if you give respect to Congress workers, we will give respect, that’s all. Otherwise, some people are posting things saying, “You won MP seat using us (DMK), didn’t you?” I am not going to contest again as MP; I am not going to contest as MP from Virudhunagar. Why? For me, my party is important. As far as I’m concerned, MP, MLA posts, all that is nothing.”
He added, “For Congress, self-respect is what matters. Did I come to Virudhunagar to become an MP on my own? I was sent by my leadership. Rahul Gandhi sent me to become MP from Virudhunagar, I came here for that. For me, Congress party is my life, these MP, MLA posts are nothing else. I might say something worse so I am not saying it. So Congress party is my life; till I die, I will die as a Congressman, that is very clear. Our struggle is only for the respect of Congress workers. We have not asked for anything else; we have not asked for commissions. They said “commission”, we didn’t ask for commissions. We didn’t ask for road contracts; we didn’t ask for anything. How many years has it been? I think 12 years… maybe 13… around 12 years since I became an MP. Let at least one person say that I took commission. Let someone say I demanded commission for a road contract, or for sand work, or for constructing something, we never had such habits. We come in the path of Kamarajar, in the path of Kakkan, in the path of Chellapandian. As far as we are concerned, we have lived honestly. If there is food, we will eat; if not, fine, we will still continue in the party. We never went behind biryani, never attacked neighbours, never tried to build organizations to capture others’ houses, we never had such practices.”
He further said, “A Congressman is one who does not covet another man’s property – first understand that. As far as we are concerned, we stand only for dignity and self-respect. If people like Thalapathi speak like this about Congress workers and no action is taken, it causes deep regret. I even had that video – someone saying, “Is there even a man in the booth?” He then played DMK MLA Thalapathy’s video here he says…. If he spoke at that level and still no action is taken, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president brother Selvaperunthagai demanded action, but it’s been 20 days and still nothing has happened.”
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