Senior Congress leader Girish Chodankar, overseeing Tamil Nadu, stated that the All India Congress Committee (AICC) leadership would make the final call on alliance strategies for the upcoming Assembly elections based on feedback from state party leaders. Following a Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) Working Committee meeting in Chennai, Chodankar emphasized the party’s ongoing organizational reforms and internal strengthening in preparation for the crucial polls.
Around 61 members attended the TNCC meeting, although 30 leaders were reportedly absent, including prominent figures like P. Chidambaram and K.S. Alagiri. Reports indicated disruptions and disagreements during closed-door discussions, reflecting internal party differences. Chodankar addressed these issues by highlighting the party’s current organizational revamp, including the appointment of new district-level Congress leaders across Tamil Nadu.
Chodankar revealed that the party would closely monitor the performance of newly appointed district presidents over a six-month period and would not hesitate to replace inactive or ineffective leaders. Regarding election readiness, the process of selecting Assembly election candidates has commenced, with aspiring candidates submitting applications for upcoming interviews. Candidates will be finalized based on these interactions and organizational feedback at the appropriate time.
When asked about continuing the alliance with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-led front, Chodankar mentioned that opinions had been gathered from party leaders statewide. The AICC leadership will consider these preferences in making the final decision. Chodankar expressed confidence that the decision would align with the party’s political goals and meet the expectations of Congress members and supporters in Tamil Nadu as the Assembly elections draw near.
