Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president K Selvaperanthugai on Tuesday dismissed speculation about internal discord within the INDIA alliance in the state, asserting that coalition partners remain united and discussions on alliance coordination are currently underway.
Speaking on the sidelines of the introductory meeting and training camp for newly appointed district leaders of the Tamil Nadu Congress Party, Selvaperanthugai said rumours of rifts within the alliance were baseless. He stressed that the Congress leadership has been given full authority to hold negotiations and coordinate with other partners.
“There is no tension in the Alliance. We are talking,” Selvaperanthugai said, indicating that communication among alliance members is continuing smoothly. He added that Congress is actively participating in alliance-related decision-making processes while maintaining constant contact with its coalition partners.
Taking a sharp dig at AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswamy, who recently made remarks about the Congress-DMK alliance, Selvaperanthugai said the opposition leader should instead focus on the stability of his own party.
“Edappadi K Palaniswamy should worry about his own party, lest BJP swallows it whole. Ask him not to leave the AIADMK party and worry about his party,” he said.
Accusing the BJP of weakening regional parties across the country, Selvaperanthugai compared the saffron party’s political strategy to an octopus. “The BJP has swallowed all the parties like an octopus. The next party to swallow is the AIADMK. It has swallowed three-quarters of the AIADMK. The big thing is to keep Edappadi Palaniswami safe,” he added.
The Congress leader also warned that the BJP had already absorbed several political groups and that parties like the AIADMK must remain vigilant if they wish to retain their identity.
Selvaperanthugai’s remarks come amid visible efforts by alliance partners to project unity. Recently, leaders from the INDIA bloc appeared together at the inauguration ceremony of the Karl Marx statue, a move seen as a strong signal of continued cooperation.
The alliance parties are also expected to come together again on the 18th of this month to stage a protest against the BJP-led central government, reinforcing their collective opposition to policies of the Union government.
“We are all united,” Selvaperanthugai reiterated.
On the question of including the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) in the alliance, particularly in the context of Madurai, Selvaperanthugai said the decision would be taken by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, who leads the state coalition. He clarified that Congress would not interfere in the internal affairs of other parties and would respect the Chief Minister’s leadership in alliance expansion decisions.
– Ends
Published By:
Nitish Singh
Published On:
Feb 11, 2026
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