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Rahul Gandhi's Absence Casts Shadow Over DMK-Congress Alliance in TN Polls

With the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections approaching, the ruling DMK is intensifying its campaign, including a major Secular Progressive Alliance rally in Salem. The event's impact is clouded by the unconfirmed attendance of invited Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, reportedly causing discontent within the DMK. This uncertainty stems from earlier alliance tensions, including Congress's internal discussions about a possible tie-up with actor Vijay's party. While Congress officials assert Rahul Gandhi will campaign before polling day, his limited joint appearances with DMK leaders have fueled speculation about the alliance's cohesion in the final campaign phase.

Key Points: TN Polls: Rahul Gandhi's Campaign Absence Stirs DMK Alliance Tensions

  • DMK hosts major alliance rally in Salem
  • Rahul Gandhi's attendance unconfirmed, causing DMK dissatisfaction
  • Tensions trace back to Congress's earlier talks with Vijay's party
  • Rahul and Stalin in Puducherry same day but on separate platforms
  • Congress leadership asserts Rahul will campaign before polls
2 min read

TN polls: Rahul Gandhi's absence looms large as DMK steps up campaign

As Tamil Nadu elections near, uncertainty over Rahul Gandhi's campaign appearances fuels speculation of strain within the DMK-Congress alliance.

"Rahul Gandhi is expected to campaign in the state before polling day. - Girish Chodankar"

Chennai, April 14

With just over a week remaining for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections scheduled on April 23, political activity has intensified across the state, with major parties accelerating their campaign efforts in what is shaping up to be a crucial electoral battle.

The ruling DMK is preparing to host a major Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) rally in Salem on April 15, aimed at consolidating voter support in the final phase of campaigning.

The party has invited Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to attend the event, but the lack of a confirmed response from him has reportedly led to dissatisfaction within sections of the DMK leadership.

Political sources trace this uncertainty to earlier tensions during alliance negotiations between the DMK and Congress.

At one stage, discussions reportedly took place within the Congress regarding a possible alignment with actor-turned-politician Vijay's Tamil Nadu Victory Party (TVK).

While Rahul Gandhi was said to be open to the idea, Sonia Gandhi is believed to have opposed the move, after which Congress reaffirmed its alliance with the DMK.

Despite the alliance being intact, signs of strain have surfaced in recent weeks. Observers point to Rahul Gandhi's limited visibility in Tamil Nadu's campaign landscape, fuelling speculation about his level of engagement.

Though there is no official confirmation, reports suggest he may reduce or delay his campaign appearances in the state.

Recent developments have further added to the perception of a disconnect. Rahul Gandhi and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin were present in Puducherry on the same day for election-related events but did not share a common platform, addressing separate gatherings instead.

Similarly, during earlier visits to Chennai and Coimbatore, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra did not participate in joint rallies with DMK leaders.

Amid the speculation, Tamil Nadu Congress in-charge Girish Chodankar has sought to allay concerns, stating that Rahul Gandhi is expected to campaign in the state before polling day.

He also noted that senior leaders, including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Priyanka Gandhi, and leaders from Telangana and Karnataka, are likely to join the campaign trail.

As the election approaches, the cohesion of the DMK-Congress alliance and the visibility of its top leadership could prove decisive in influencing voter sentiment.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Alliance politics is always complicated. Maybe there are internal schedules we don't know about. But Stalin Anna is a strong leader, and the DMK's work in TN will speak for itself. Still, a joint rally would energize the cadre. 🤞
V
Vikram M
The report about Congress flirting with Vijay's TVK is very interesting! It shows a lack of long-term strategy. You can't build trust with such backroom talks. Sonia Gandhi was right to stop it. But now, they must compensate with full-throated support.
A
Aryan P
As a young voter, I'm more interested in local issues: jobs, infrastructure, education. While star campaigners are nice, the local MLA candidate's profile matters more to me. Hope the focus remains on development promises.
S
Sarah B
Observing from outside, this seems like typical political drama before elections. The in-charge has said Rahul will campaign, so maybe we should wait instead of speculating. Last-minute big rallies can sometimes have the biggest impact.
K
Karthik V
Respectfully, this is a failure of Congress's communication. In the age of social media, ambiguity fuels negative narratives. They should have announced Rahul Gandhi's TN tour dates clearly to show solidarity with DMK. This silence is damaging.

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