In a sharp attack on long-time ally Congress after its support for the Vijay-led TVK, DMK youth wing chief Udhayanidhi Stalin said the party had “stabbed the DMK in the back” after benefiting electorally from the alliance, and asserted that the Congress should “never” be trusted again.
“For more than 20 years, the Congress rode on our backs. Today, they stabbed us in the back. No one should ever forget this. We should never trust the Congress at any time in the future, and we should never allow them to get close to us again,” Udhayanidhi said while addressing a youth wing meeting of the DMK on Saturday.
The Congress, which won five seats in the April 23 Assembly elections as part of the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, extended its support to the Vijay-led TVK after the actor-politician’s party emerged as the single largest formation without a majority to form the government.
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Udhayanidhi on the role of Congress
Launching a blistering attack on the grand old party, Udhayanidhi said he once believed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah were the main reasons behind the BJP’s repeated electoral victories, but claimed that the Congress itself was responsible.
“But this is not the case. The main reason for the BJP’s victories is the Congress party. This is now clearly evident,” he added.
Pointing out the DMK’s commitment to the alliance, Udhayanidhi said party workers had shed “blood and sweat” to ensure Congress victories in the name of protecting secularism and keeping the BJP out of Tamil Nadu.
“Even in these elections, an almost non-existent Congress managed to win five seats only because of our leader’s instructions and diligent work of DMK cadres. But immediately after the win, they ran for power, without even a hint of courtesy,” he said.
The DMK leader also called for introspection within the party in the wake of recent electoral setbacks, stressing the need for stronger social media outreach and better engagement at the household level.
He said: “We campaigned abroad, but I think we failed to campaign inside our homes. Before you go out to politicize strangers, talk politics with your family members and children in a language they understand.”
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Congress responds
Reacting to Udhayanidhi’s remarks, Congress MP Manickam Tagore said: “Congress stood with DMK in difficult times… We were waiting outside when they had a minority… His words are unacceptable. Congress has always stood with the secular alliance.”
“The BJP has been advocating a tie-up of the DMK and AIADMK, which is against our principle… The Congress will not tolerate any understanding with the BJP…”
(with PTI inputs)
