Fissures emerge in DMK – Congress alliance over RS seat

Leaders of Tamil Nadu Congress Committee are disgruntled with the DMK's announcement of candidates to the Rajya Sabha elections. Many in the Congress party are unhappy over the DMK unilaterally announcing the candidates for 3 Rajya Sabha seats. The DMK had earlier announced 3 candidates – Mr. Tiurchi Siva, Mr. N.R. Ilango and Andhiyur Selvaraj who will be contesting for the Rajya Sabha seats allotted to Tamil Nadu.

In the last elections to the Rajya Sabha, the Congress had pitched Dr. Manmohan Singh to be elected to the Rajya Sabha from Tamil Nadu. However, the DMK miffed it saying that they should have come earlier. One of the senior leaders of TNCC said that the DMK had agreed to give a berth in the Rajya Sabha during the seat sharing talks for the Lok Sabha elections. He said that the arrangements were for the current Assembly's tenure and speculated that it would next Assembly elections would be a close contest.

The leader said that a seat here and there was not an issue but it the manner in which they are being treated is the concern. He expressed envy over the way the AIADMK dealt with its allies. He even mentioned that Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami is on a stronger footing now as compared to three years ago.

Another leader said that if Rajinikanth made the plunge and manages to get 15-20 seats, he could become the kingmaker. He cautioned that the DMK must realize that the Congress has presence in every district and in closely contested elections 2000-3000 votes would matter. Talks are also doing the rounds about the cadres of the Congress party being disenchanted. When cadres become demoralized, they stop working even if the leadership asks to. This is something the DMK has to realize if the alliance has to remain unaffected.

Earlier in January at the time of local body polls, senior leader and treasurer of the DMK Durai Murugan had mentioned in a press meet that the absence of Congress in the alliance would not affect the DMK in anyway.

The Congress party expressed that the DMK should introspect and ensure the alliance stays strong.