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 alliance matters should be discussed internally and not aired in public, particularly at a time when seat-sharing talks are expected to begin soon. While Congress functionaries have been pressing for a greater role in the alliance, the DMK is understood to have maintained that negotiations will take place through established channels.
Meanwhile, Selvaperunthagai is learnt to have submitted a detailed report to Kharge on the prevailing situation in Tamil Nadu. He reiterated that state leaders are bound by the directives of the All India Congress Committee and that alliance issues should not be discussed publicly without approval from the central leadership.
In a parallel development, a section of Tamil Nadu Congress Committee office-bearers is said to have written to Kharge seeking a more substantial share for the party in the alliance arrangement. Their demands reportedly include enhanced representation in the Assembly elections, greater participation in local body polls, and a role in governance.
The episode underlines the delicate balancing act within the DMKāCongress alliance as both parties prepare for the upcoming electoral battles in the State.