Tamil Nadu Congress leaders to meet AICC in Delhi today to discuss demand for power-sharing in the State

Senior leaders of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) are hopeful that the party’s national leadership will take an early decision on pressing for power-sharing with the DMK ahead of the Assembly election in the State.

All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, are set to hold discussions with State Congress leaders on the issue in New Delhi on Saturday.

TNCC leaders claimed that the DMK was prepared to allot more seats to the Congress than the 25 given in 2021, but has ruled out sharing power.

Sources in the TNCC said the AICC leadership was apprised that the INDIA bloc’s success in Tamil Nadu rests on the successful mobilisation of Scheduled Caste/Tribe and minority votes, and such mobilisation would not be entirely successful without the Congress in the alliance.

A senior leader, who will be a part of the discussions, said: “The issue is not just about being a part of the government, but we are also not consulted on any issues of importance in the State. This is undemocratic and unacceptable.”

Another office-bearer, who will be a part of the discussions in New Delhi, suggested it wouldn’t be easy for the DMK to replace the Congress in its alliance and dismissed the view that the electorate would not accept a coalition government.

“In 2006, the electorate gave a fractured mandate to the DMK alliance. So, people have given such mandates in the past. Also, this is the norm in Indian politics today. Even the BJP, with a brute majority, is accommodating its alliance partners. Why can’t the DMK do the same?” the leader asked.