CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president K Selvaperunthagai’s remarks in an interview to TNIE on Friday, reiterating his preference for the inclusion of PMK in the DMK-led INDIA bloc for the 2026 Assembly polls, have drawn sharp criticism from within the Congress and its ally VCK.
While Congress MP Manickam Tagore questioned how a party that has consistently supported Prime Minister Narendra Modi since 2014 could be considered for alliance, VCK general secretary and Villupuram MP D Ravikumar urged the AICC to clarify whether Selvaperunthagai’s statement had the approval of the party’s high command. He also said the TNCC chief’s remarks gave the impression that the current DMK-led alliance lacked strength.
In the interview, Selvaperunthagai said his view stemmed from the need for greater unity between Dalits and OBCs. On VCK’s opposition to such an alliance, he said the VCK has the right to decide what is good for the party.
Tagore, in a post on X, said without naming Selvaperunthagai, “How can you want a party that stood with Modi since 2014 to be your ally? Why hurt those who have stood with us and support Rahul Gandhi in every battle?”
“This cannot be a party decision- it appears to be purely personal,” he said, with a hashtag ‘StandWithTrueFriends’.
In response, Ravikumar tagged AICC general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal and asked whether Selvaperunthagai’s stance had his approval. “VCK has consistently stood by the INDIA bloc, both at the state and national levels. The TNCC’s interest in bringing an NDA ally like PMK into the INDIA bloc is troubling and suggests the DMK-led alliance isn’t confident enough to counter the BJP,” he said. Referring to Selvaperunthagai’s remarks on Dalit-OBC solidarity, Ravikumar told TNIE that VCK already represents OBCs, with two of its MLAs and over 10 % of its district secretaries being OBCs.“Our party has made it clear that we will not share space with BJP or PMK in any alliance,” he added.
“Such moves could slowly erode the INDIA bloc’s credibility in Tamil Nadu,” a functionary said. There was already a rift between the two leaders, as per party sources. Responding to the criticism, Selvaperunthagai told TNIE that his remarks were misunderstood. “It’s about unity among oppressed communities, not about politics or alliances,” he said.
TNCC general secretary GK Muralidharan said that although Selvaperunthagai’s brief meeting with PMK founder S Ramadoss stirred a debate, it has, however, been welcomed by the people as a step towards harmonious coexistence of the two communities.