Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Tensions within the DMK–Congress alliance in Tamil Nadu have resurfaced days before formal seat-sharing negotiations are scheduled to begin, with leaders from both sides trading remarks that have left cadres uneasy.
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) is unhappy with a series of public statements by Congress leaders seeking a share in power and a larger electoral footprint, even as talks with allies are slated for February 22.
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The matter is likely to be escalated when Tamil Nadu Congress chief K Selvaperunthagai meets Mallikarjun Kharge in Delhi, with DMK leaders flagging the possible impact such comments may have on the partnership.
CONGRESS LEADERS’S POWER PUSH
Manickam Tagore triggered the latest round of friction after he publicly argued that allies must treat each other with respect and reminded the DMK of the Congress’ contribution to its rise.
“We have helped you climb the throne. We might have less people, less money but without our strength you couldn’t have climbed the throne. Please don’t forget that. We have also not forgotten your help. All we say is that we respect you and you respect us,” he said.
A meeting of the Madurai South District Congress Committee held under Tagore went a step further, adopting a set of resolutions that will be forwarded to the party high command. Among other things, the district unit sought power sharing in Tamil Nadu with a 30 per cent share at the local government level and demanded that the seats sought by the Congress be allotted to it in the upcoming polls.
STATE CONGRESS CHIEF PULLS UP LEADERS
Caught in the crossfire, Selvaperunthagai publicly distanced the state unit from such remarks and reminded party colleagues of instructions from the central leadership not to air views on alliances in public.
“As president of Tamil Nadu Congress Committee I strictly follow the AICC’s instructions. We have been told not to talk about alliances in public forum. Our leaders- Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and KC Venugopal- have told us not to publicly express views. I don’t know if there’s anyone bigger than these leaders in the Congress,” he said.
When asked about Tagore’s meeting and the demand for power sharing, he replied, “I don’t know about it.” He added that he had been summoned by the high command to discuss the prevailing political situation and indicated that defying the leadership’s direction would be wrong.
Selvaperunthagai also noted that a five-member committee under AICC in-charge Girish Chodankar had already been constituted to negotiate with the DMK.
DMK FIRM ON NO COALITION
The unease comes close on the heels of Chief Minister MK Stalin reiterating that the alliance with the Congress remained intact, while firmly rejecting any idea of sharing power in the government.
“Sharing power in the government does not suit Tamil Nadu. The Congress also knows that very well,” Stalin had said recently, blaming attempts to manufacture a rift.
“Beyond politics, I look at Rahul Gandhi as a brother. He also looks at me the same way. The DMK-Congress alliance is in harmony. What others are expecting will not happen,” he added.
However, earlier comments by DMK leaders, including minister RS Rajakannappan, had underscored the party’s resistance to the demand. He said that even when the late M Karunanidhi led governments with comfortable numbers, power was not shared, and asserted that the next government too would be headed solely by Stalin.
For now, leaders in both the DMK and Congress insist the alliance will hold. Yet, with district units upping the ante and negotiations yet to begin, the coming meeting between Selvaperunthagai and Kharge is expected to be crucial in ironing out differences before the February 22 talks begin.
– Ends
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
