Ahead of the formalisation of the seat-sharing agreement between the DMK and Congress, political circles were abuzz with reports suggesting a possible alliance between the Congress and Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).
Amid this backdrop, Congress leader Praveen Chakravarty, who heads the party’s data analytics division and is considered close to Rahul Gandhi, stated that his meeting with actor-politician Vijay was carried out with the approval of the Congress leadership.
As reported in Dinamalar, in an interview to an English daily, Chakravarty clarified that the meetings were not personal initiatives but were undertaken with the consent of the party high command. He stated that all actions taken by him over the past six months had been with the approval of the leadership and added that he was prepared to face criticism and even be made a scapegoat if required for the party’s interests. He also indicated that another senior All India Congress Committee functionary had participated in the meeting with Vijay.
While declining to comment directly on whether formal alliance talks took place, Chakravarty acknowledged that discussions on politics, including Tamil Nadu politics, were held during the meeting.
Addressing questions on alliance dynamics, he said that within the Congress, there was a strong view that the party should seek a greater number of seats in Tamil Nadu. He noted that nearly two-thirds of party functionaries supported increasing the number of seats allocated to Congress, while some backed the demand for a share in power. A smaller section, he said, suggested that alternative options should be considered if these demands were not met.
Chakravarty described the Congress in Tamil Nadu as a party that does not fully recognise its own strength, comparing it to Hanuman. He said the current political situation presents an opportunity for the party to rebuild, reorganise, and strengthen itself. He also emphasised that Congress leaders and workers expect both respect and a fair share of seats, and warned that dissatisfaction among cadres would persist unless the number of constituencies allotted to the party is increased.
On electoral prospects, Chakravarty said the upcoming Assembly election would be highly competitive. He stated that TVK’s entry into the electoral fray could lead to a split in votes, which, according to him, would impact the ruling party.
Despite earlier speculation about alternative alliance options, Congress has continued in its alliance with the DMK, with seat-sharing finalised and candidate nominations already filed.
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