Chennai, May 25:
Amid escalating political exchanges in Tamil Nadu, the Indian National Congress on Sunday asserted that while criticism of its decisions is welcome, questioning the people’s mandate is unacceptable.
Girish Chodankar, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge for Tamil Nadu, said political parties were free to attack the Congress and its alliance strategies but should refrain from disrespecting the verdict delivered by the electorate in the recent Assembly elections.
“The people of Tamil Nadu are politically mature and have voted with wisdom and clarity. Every party has the right to criticise us, and we will not be provoked. But no one should question or disrespect the democratic mandate given by the people,” he said in a statement, in an apparent response to criticism from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).
Chodankar noted that the Congress had consciously avoided reacting to personal attacks against its leadership and organisation, choosing instead to uphold democratic values and restraint in political discourse.
“Knowing well that governments are rarely repeated in Tamil Nadu, we still joined the alliance despite having other winning options,” he remarked, signalling confidence in the party’s strategic decisions.
Reiterating the Congress party’s commitment to democratic principles, Chodankar said the party believes in accepting the people’s verdict “with humility and magnanimity.”