CHENNAI: Amid sections of the party urging for a coalition government, while some are batting for DMK-baiter TVK chief Vijay, the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president Selvaperunthagai on Friday urged party members to refrain from making public statements that would undermine the INDIA bloc in the State.
Selvaperunthagai said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was leading the fight against the BJP government in Parliament, with the support of MPs from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. He appealed to Congress workers to act responsibly, uphold secular values and safeguard both the welfare of Tamil Nadu and the national interest.
The state Congress chief also asserted that the Congress–DMK alliance remains intact and that all decisions will be taken in consultation with the All India Congress Committee leadership.
Selvaperunthagai said the five-member committee appointed by the Congress had already held preliminary talks with the DMK, as confirmed by AICC in-charge for Tamil Nadu Girish Chodankar. He stressed that the alliance discussions were being handled in a disciplined manner and that party leaders and cadres should avoid expressing personal views in public, as such remarks could weaken the INDIA bloc.
The Tamil Nadu Congress chief also accused the BJP-led Union government of attempting to destabilise opposition unity in Tamil Nadu, alleging misuse of central agencies such as the Income Tax Department, the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate to intimidate parties unwilling to align with the BJP. He claimed that the BJP, unable to gain a foothold in the State on its own, was attempting to expand its presence by using the AIADMK as a political instrument.
Recalling the electoral record since 2004, Selvaperunthagai said the Congress–DMK alliance had consistently received the people's mandate. He cited the alliance’s victories in the 2019 and 2024 Lok Sabha elections and the 2021 Assembly polls.