B. Manickam Tagore File
| Picture Credit score: G. Moorthy
Forward of the Tamil Nadu Meeting elections, the goodwill between the ruling DMK and its ally, the Congress, has suffered a extreme jolt within the wake of steady accusations levelled towards the Dravidian occasion by a piece of Congress leaders, significantly Virudhunagar MP Manickam Tagore and functionary Praveen Chakravarty.
The DMK management, it’s reliably learnt, seems to have ready itself for the result, no matter it might be. “Our occasion management isn’t inclined to name the Congress for seat-sharing talks if motion isn’t taken towards the 2 functionaries,” a senior chief within the DMK instructed The Hindu on Monday (February 16, 2026).
‘Stalin upset’
“Our chief is upset. We’re sure Mr. Tagore wouldn’t be focusing on us and repeatedly demanding a share in energy with out the blessings of the Congress excessive command. How do you anticipate us to sit down with them and maintain seat-sharing talks after Mr. Tagore has criticised our management and the occasion?” requested the chief.
On Sunday (February 15), Mr. Tagore mentioned the Congress had shared the burden of the DMK’s errors (in 2014) and complained the Dravidian occasion had not taken motion towards considered one of its district secretaries in Madurai and minister, who reportedly went to the extent of claiming that the Congress was free to go away the DMK alliance. The assembly of the Madurai South district unit of the Congress, through which Mr. Tagore participated, additionally adopted a decision demanding a share in energy.
The DMK management additionally suspects the Congress is perhaps retaining its choices open, as some leaders are reportedly taken with aligning with the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) launched by actor Vijay.
‘Leaving will profit NDA’
A Congress MP agreed that Mr. Tagore wouldn’t goal the DMK with out the blessings of both Rahul Gandhi or different leaders in Delhi. “As a celebration, we’ve the correct to take a political determination. But when we have been taken with leaving the alliance, we should always have ready the bottom at the very least a yr in the past. If we depart now, it should solely assist the BJP-AIADMK alliance,” he mentioned.
The MP, too, felt Chief Minister and DMK president M.Ok. Stalin won’t come ahead to carry talks with the Congress if motion isn’t taken towards Mr. Tagore and Mr. Chakravarthy.
A DMK MP mentioned whether or not it was Kalaignar (M. Karunanidhi) or Thalapathy (Stalin), they’d at all times been accommodative when it got here to the Congress, and that there was nothing that would not be resolved by negotiations. “We have now conveyed our stand to the Congress management that power-sharing isn’t attainable. The Chief Minister additionally made our place clear in a public discussion board. Nonetheless, Congress leaders are intentionally making noise, which won’t augur effectively for the alliance,” the DMK MP mentioned.
Requested for his feedback, TNCC president Selvaperunthagai mentioned the high-command already cautioned leaders towards speaking concerning the alliance overtly. “It had shaped a five-member committee, and the committee will maintain seat-sharing talks with the DMK,” he maintained.
Revealed – February 16, 2026 03:46 pm IST
