Cong MP hits back at Stalin over power-sharing row

Congress MP Manickam Tagore has publicly challenged Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s description of the party’s demand for a share in power as a “conspiracy,” in a growing political debate ahead of the state elections. On Thursday, Tagore, a vocal advocate for the Congress party’s call for greater involvement in governance, took to social media to question how seeking “a role (a share) in work to serve the people” could be labelled a conspiracy, posting a terse message alongside a thinking-face emoji. His remarks come after Stalin firmly rejected power-sharing with alliance partners, including the Congress, while maintaining that the DMK-Congress alliance remains intact for the upcoming polls. The Chief Minister has argued that sharing power with allies would not work in Tamil Nadu’s political context and described critics questioning the alliance as part of a deliberate attempt to create rifts. Tagore’s comments signal that the Congress may continue to press for influence in the state government despite Stalin’s stance, underscoring a strain within the coalition even as officials insist the partnership will last through the election season.