CHENNAI: The DMK working president M.K. Stalin is likely to meet Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi in Delhi on Friday amidst the strain in the relationship between the DMK and TNCC president S. Thirunavukkarasar. DMK leaders described the visit as a ‘courtesy call’, but it is said alliance issues and the functioning of the TNCC president could also be discussed. Before the confidence vote for Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palanisami was taken up, former TNCC president E.V.K.S. Elangovan had alleged that Thirunavukkarasar is deliberately delaying the announcement of Congress decision to oppose the motion. Thirunavukkarasar also did not take part in the hunger protests held by the DMK condemning the ‘murder of democracy’ in the Assembly and also openly criticised the conduct of the DMK in the Assembly, while condemning the eviction of Stalin and his MLAs.
The Congress needs to smoothen the relationship with the DMK, as the local body polls are just three months away. Differences surfaced between the two allies after the negotiations for sharing of wards in the local bodies, when the schedule was announced in October. Thirunavukkarasar had openly declared that his party would go it alone if the party was not given a good deal in the seat sharing for the local bodies.
