Living off others' labour: DMK youth wing slams Congress for 'parasitic politics'

The youth wing of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Saturday passed a strongly worded resolution accusing the Indian National Congress of “backstabbing” the party and “living parasitically off the labour of others” after abruptly severing ties after benefiting for years from the Dravidian party’s organisational strength and electoral support.

The resolution, adopted amid the widening political rift between the two parties in Tamil Nadu, alleged that Congress leaders rose to power and secured electoral victories largely due to the efforts of DMK cadre, only to abandon the alliance overnight after the 2026 Assembly election results, with two Congress MLAs later inducted into the new CM Vijay-led government.

“In several past elections, Congress contested as part of the DMK-led alliance and secured many MLAs and MPs. Even though Congress failed to effectively utilise its own cadre for field work, it was DMK workers who played the key role in Congress victories,” the resolution stated.

The DMK youth wing claimed that even in the recently concluded Assembly polls, Congress won five seats solely because of the efforts of DMK cadre. It also pointed out that the Congress had secured a Rajya Sabha seat before the elections with the backing of DMK legislators despite its limited independent strength in the state.

“After receiving all this support, Congress shifted alliances overnight without even expressing gratitude. Blinded by the desire for power, they failed to uphold even basic political civility,” the resolution said.

Launching a scathing attack on the Congress leadership, the resolution accused the party of surviving “parasitically off the labour of others” and betraying allies for political convenience.

“The betrayal they committed against DMK today will tomorrow be committed against their new allies as well. Congress leaders are like people who drill holes in the very boat in which they travel,” it added.

The resolution further argued that Congress ministers were in government only because voters wanted the DMK alliance to form power, and not due to the Congress’s own political base. “Yet they behave as though they have created history through their own efforts,” it said.

The development comes amid a dramatic collapse of the INDIA bloc in Tamil Nadu following Congress’s decision to break its 22-year alliance with the DMK and instead support CM Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam to form the new government in the state.

The 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections saw TVK emerge as the single largest party with 108 seats, falling short of the 118 needed for a majority in the 234-member Assembly.

The DMK suffered a crushing defeat, winning only 59 seats, while party president and outgoing Chief Minister MK Stalin also lost his Kolathur constituency.

Sensing a shift in political momentum, Congress, which secured five seats, announced support to Vijay’s TVK, saying it wanted to “respect a strong public mandate for change and ensure the formation of a secular government”.

The move triggered outrage within the DMK, with senior leader TKS Elangovan declaring that the INDIA bloc was effectively finished. “What the BJP did to other states, Congress did to DMK in Tamil Nadu,” another DMK resolution stated.

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