DMK-Congress alliance: A flawed beginning and lack of cohesion

Muthal Konal Muttrilum Konal, a Tamil proverb, roughly translates to “a flawed beginning leads inevitably to a flawed end.” Few phrases capture more effectively the seat-sharing arrangement between the DMK and the Congress. Even as the election campaign gathers momentum and DMK leader-cum-Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has already completed many rounds of tours across the State, the Congress high command in Delhi appears to show little interest in an election in which its political stakes are considerable. It looks as if the party has given up on Tamil Nadu. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has yet to visit the State and, more importantly, has not shared a dais with Mr. Stalin — an absence that raises questions about the cohesion of the alliance. There appears to be little meeting of minds between the two parties.

The attitude of the Congress high command has caused considerable anxiety among local leaders and cadres alike. Mr. Rahul Gandhi, who visited Puducherry, campaigned separately for Congress candidates, raising questions about coordination between the two parties, which have decided to face the election together. Even after an agreement was reached — allocating 16 seats to the Congress and 13 to the DMK— six rebel Congress candidates filed nominations. Instead of persuading them to withdraw, Mr. Gandhi met five of the ‘rebel’ candidates and posed for photographs with them at the airport. This incident has caused enormous heartburn in the DMK camp, which has taken on much of the burden of campaigning for Congress candidates in Tamil Nadu. Mr. Stalin has entrusted DMK district secretaries with the responsibility of ensuring the victory of all alliance candidates. To incentivise them, he has announced ministerial berths for district secretaries who secure the highest number of victories in their respective districts. However, Congress leaders in Tamil Nadu remain uncertain whether Mr. Rahul Gandhi will tour the State, particularly after he failed to attend a meeting in Thoothukudi despite earlier expectations.