Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president K. Selvaperunthagai clarified the party’s stance regarding comments made by party MP Manickam Tagore on power-sharing with the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). Tagore had expressed support for seeking a share in governance during a district committee meeting on February 15. Selvaperunthagai emphasized the importance of party discipline and following directives from the central leadership.
Selvaperunthagai highlighted that discussions related to alliances should not be conducted publicly. He stated that the central leadership had instructed against debating alliance issues openly. He stressed the significance of adhering to these directions as the State president.
Referring to the national leadership’s authority, Selvaperunthagai mentioned that senior leaders like Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and K. C. Venugopal had advised against expressing personal opinions on alliance matters in public. He urged party members to respect and abide by the guidance provided by the leadership.
The TNCC president, without directly naming Tagore, questioned the timing of the power-sharing demand. He suggested that any concerns or views should be raised within the party forums rather than in public. Selvaperunthagai also noted the existence of a structured mechanism for discussions with the DMK, highlighting the ongoing seat-sharing negotiations led by a designated committee.
When asked about potential disciplinary actions, Selvaperunthagai mentioned being summoned by the high command for discussions on the current political scenario. He emphasized the importance of collective decisions and adherence to established instructions for maintaining internal democracy within the party.
The statements made by Selvaperunthagai indicate that the issue is now being considered by the party’s central leadership, focusing on preserving unity during crucial electoral negotiations.
