CHENNAI: Amid an escalating war of words with the Congress, DMK organising secretary RS Bharathi on Tuesday cautioned party functionaries against openly criticising alliance partners.
In a message posted on social media platform X, Bharathi said DMK cadres and office-bearers should refrain from making public remarks on alliance matters, including seat-sharing arrangements and leaders of allied parties. There was no purpose in indulging in controversial discussions and party functionaries should focus entirely on election-related fieldwork, he said.
He also reminded cadres that decisions on alliances and seat-sharing would be taken by party chief MK Stalin alone, as he had asserted recently, at an appropriate time. Functionaries should work only with the objective of ensuring victory, he added.
The advisory follows a fresh round of public sparring between the DMK and its ally, the Congress.
DMK MLA G Thalapathi criticised the Congress, alleging that the party lacked the organisational strength to even set up booths during elections. He also appealed to the DMK leadership to deny seats to Congress MPs B Manickam Tagore and S Jothimani for seeking share in power.
Reacting to it, Tagore had appealed to the party president, stating that the Congress should contest the Madurai North Assembly constituency, which is currently represented by DMK MLA Thalapathi. The DMK legislator's remarks drew a sharp response from Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K Selvaperunthagai, who condemned them and sought action against him.
Following the open exchange between leaders of the two parties, the DMK leadership has stepped in to contain the situation, with Bharathi’s message aimed at restoring restraint and maintaining unity within the ruling alliance ahead of the Assembly election.