A Congress functionary has alleged growing dissatisfaction among party workers over the conduct of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s (DMK) second- and third-tier leaders, claiming that local-level actions by the ally are alienating Congress cadres and eroding respect for former Chief Minister K. Kamaraj’s legacy.
In a statement made during a public interaction, the Congress leader said that while the party leadership’s recent decisions were correct, grassroots members were feeling increasingly marginalised within the alliance. “The decision taken by the Congress leadership is the right decision. We are sure that our contribution is not being asked for too much,” he said, adding that “there is a dissatisfaction among the workers” due to the “actions of second-tier and third-tier leaders in the Dravidian party.”
Citing examples from Bhavanisagar constituency, the Congress leader accused local DMK functionaries of attempting to erase Kamaraj’s name from public spaces and institutions established during his tenure. “If you look at the Bhavanisagar dam, even a small child studying there knows who built it. If not for Perunthalaivar Kamaraj, that dam wouldn’t have been built. But there is no statue of Kamaraj near that dam” he asked.
He further claimed that a bus stand in Bhavanisagar, originally named after Kamaraj, had been demolished and rebuilt without retaining his name. “The chairman here has created so many obstacles so that Kamaraj’s name is not kept for that bus stand. These lower tier people have petty desires — they want to steal the name of Perunthalaivar Kamaraj and put the names of their leaders,” he said.
The Congress functionary alleged that such “petty political desires” by local DMK leaders had pushed Congress members to seek greater power within the alliance. “People like the chairman in Bhavani Sagar are examples of such things – it is because of them such things are happening. This is why the Congressmen really want to towards power. We are being pushed by them; it is inevitable that it will come and be accepted,” he remarked.
The remarks highlight internal tensions within the DMK-Congress alliance, particularly in western Tamil Nadu, where Congress leaders have previously voiced concerns about being sidelined in local administrative and symbolic matters.
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