The appearance of posters seeking votes for the Congress party in the Madurai North Assembly constituency has triggered unease and anger within Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam circles, even as seat-sharing talks among alliance partners are yet to be finalised.
Congress workers have pasted posters across several localities in Madurai North urging voters to vote for the party’s hand symbol. The move has come as a surprise to the DMK, as the constituency is currently represented by a DMK MLA and no formal decision has been taken on constituency allocation within the alliance.
The posters, which prominently display slogans such as “Vote for the hand symbol” and appeal to voters in Madurai North to support the Congress candidate, do not name any individual contestant. However, the messaging has created the impression that the constituency has already been allotted to the Indian National Congress, sparking speculation and controversy.
The development follows remarks made a few days earlier by the Madurai North MLA K Thalapathi, who also serves as the DMK’s Madurai city district secretary, during a public meeting held to mark Language Struggle Martyrs’ Day. In his speech, the DMK leader had criticised the Congress and its MPs Manickam Tagore and Jothimani, alleging that the Congress secures only around 3,000 to 4,000 votes in a constituency and lacks sufficient cadres even to form booth committees.
In response, Manickam Tagore, who represents Virudhunagar in the Lok Sabha, took to social media urging Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to ensure that the party contests the Madurai North Assembly constituency. He also raised the issue with Selva Perunthagai, the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president, objecting to the remarks made by the DMK MLA.
It is against this backdrop that the Congress posters have surfaced in Madurai North. With the final seat-sharing arrangement for the Assembly elections still pending among alliance partners, the Congress party’s move has intensified tensions within the alliance.
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