Chennai, Apr 3:
Differences within the Congress over candidate selection for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections continue to deepen, with senior leader Rahul Gandhi reportedly expressing strong dissatisfaction during a Central Election Committee meeting held in New Delhi on Thursday.
The party is facing persistent challenges in finalising its list of candidates, as internal disagreements between the central and state leadership remain unresolved.
Uncertainty continues in key constituencies such as Vilavancode, Krishnagiri, Singanallur, Pennagaram, and Melur, where consensus on candidates has yet to be reached, according to sources.
During the meeting at the All India Congress Committee headquarters, tensions reportedly escalated after discrepancies emerged between the list prepared by Rahul Gandhi and the one submitted by the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee.
Sources indicate that the state leadership has also expressed dissatisfaction over suggestions made by the central leadership, further intensifying the friction.
As a result, the process of finalising the complete list of candidates continues to face delays.
TNCC president K Selvaperunthagai indicated that the process is still underway.
He emphasised that efforts are being made to ensure a balanced selection of candidates, taking into account winnability, local dynamics, and alliance considerations.
With the Congress allotted around 28 seats in the DMK-led alliance, the delay reflects ongoing efforts to arrive at a consensus and avoid last-minute conflicts within the party.