KC Venugopal’s advice to TN Cong leaders

K. C. Venugopal, General Secretary (Organisation) of the Indian National Congress, has instructed party leaders in Tamil Nadu not to publicly comment on alliance issues, stating that even state presidents should refrain from making statements about coalition partners.
His remarks come amid discussions within the Congress regarding seat-sharing arrangements with its ally, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. Venugopal emphasised that decisions related to alliances and electoral strategy will be taken by the party’s national leadership and that individual opinions expressed in public do not reflect the official stance of the Congress.
The senior Congress leader underscored the importance of maintaining discipline and unity within the party, especially during sensitive negotiations. He reiterated that the Congress-DMK alliance remains strong and that all discussions regarding seat allocation and future course of action are being handled at the appropriate level within the party structure.
Meanwhile, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has urged the national leadership of the Indian National Congress to initiate action against senior party leaders Manickam Tagore and Praveen Chakravarthy over their recent remarks that have caused friction within the ruling alliance in Tamil Nadu.
According to sources, the DMK leadership conveyed its displeasure to the Congress high command, stating that public comments made by the two leaders on power-sharing and alliance dynamics were inappropriate and could strain ties between the partners ahead of crucial electoral negotiations.
The issue reportedly prompted Mallikarjun Kharge to hold discussions with K. Selvaperunthagai in Bengaluru to assess the situation. The development came after Tagore warned that Congress cadres would respond strongly if provoked, remarks that did not go down well with the DMK leadership.
Sources in the DMK said that allian