Senior AIADMK leader and former minister Sellur K. Raju sparked controversy and embarrassment for his party after tweeting praise for Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. On Wednesday, Raju deleted the tweet from his X (formerly Twitter) handle following the uproar.
Raju’s tweet read, “The young leader whom I admired!!!” and was posted in response to a video showing Rahul Gandhi enjoying a meal at a hotel and interacting with youngsters through chats and selfies. The tweet quickly ignited rumors on social media, with some speculating that Raju might be contemplating a switch to the Congress party.
In response to the rumors, Raju clarified that his admiration was simply for Rahul Gandhi’s simplicity and his connection with people, noting that Gandhi is also the son of a former Prime Minister. However, this explanation did not quell the speculation and unease within the AIADMK ranks.
Known for his witty remarks, Raju decided to delete the tweet to prevent further embarrassment. “It was an unintended one, but it caused embarrassment for him (Raju) and party leadership. We hope we will be cautious henceforth,” commented a functionary from the AIADMK’s social media wing.