Rohit Kumar
NEW DELHI, June 16: Showing huge cracks in the opposition INDIA bloc, the DMK on Tuesday launched a scathing two-pronged attack on its alliance partner Congress, particularly the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi with its IT wing mocking him as a “massive joke.”
The party’s official mouthpiece Murasoli has accused him of weakening opposition unity, questioning the Congress party’s political conduct both within the INDIA bloc and in Tamil Nadu. Referring to Congress’ break up post poll, the DMK IT wing posted: “We carried the INC on our shoulders when they were fighting for their political survival, only for them to jump ship the second they saw a shiny new toy.” The post ended with calling Rahul Gandhi “a massive joke.”
In a simultaneous attack an editorial published on Monday in the DMK mouthpiece, Murasolitook exception to Rahul Gandhi’s recent remarks following the INDIA bloc meeting and alleged that it was the Congress leader himself who had contributed to divisions among opposition parties.
The attacks came against the backdrop of a major political realignment in Tamil Nadu. The Congress, which won five Assembly seats as part of the DMK-led alliance in the 2026 Assembly elections, later quit the alliance and joined the Vijay-led TVK government as a coalition partner, leaving the DMK heading a diminished opposition front in the state.
At the national level too, relations between the DMK and Congress have become strained. The DMK recently boycotted an INDIA bloc meeting, saying it would not participate in a meeting convened by Congress, though it clarified that it would continue to support issues raised by other opposition parties within the alliance framework.
Against this background, Murasoli accused Rahul Gandhi of preaching opposition unity while allegedly undermining it. Referring to his comments on coalition partners, the editorial said, “Rahul Gandhi is lecturing on unity. But who weakened that unity in various states?”
The editorial devoted considerable space to criticism leveled against Rahul Gandhi by Left parties in Kerala. It recalled that Communist leaders had strongly objected when Rahul Gandhi, during election campaigns, demanded the arrest of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and accused the Left Democratic Front government of having a secret understanding with the BJP. According to Murasoli, such attacks prompted Left leaders to question whether Congress was more interested in targeting its allies than taking on the BJP.
Murasoli The editorial also alleged that Rahul Gandhi and the Congress had repeatedly worked against the interests of INDIA bloc constituents coming to power in various states, even when those parties were better positioned to challenge the BJP. The editorial questioned how Congress could now speak of opposition unity when alliance partners themselves had accused it of undermining their prospects of forming governments.
The editorial cited criticism of Congress by several INDIA bloc constituents, including Left parties, Samajwadi Party leaders and others, and argued that Rahul Gandhi’s political approach had repeatedly created friction within the opposition alliance.
Drawing parallels with Tamil Nadu politics, Murasoli argued that Congress had betrayed the DMK despite contesting and winning seats under the alliance banner. It alleged that the subsequent decision of Congress legislators to join the TVK-led government had been carried out with the knowledge and approval of the party’s central leadership.
It also mocked Rahul Gandhi’s recent assurances to alliance partners, asking whether such promises would be trusted after the Congress’ conduct in Tamil Nadu. In a strongly worded conclusion, Murasoli argued that opposition parties were increasingly directing their criticism at Congress rather than the BJP and blamed what it described as Rahul Gandhi’s “political immaturity” and lack of consistency for the growing friction within the INDIA bloc.
The editorial ended with a rhetorical question, asking who was responsible for “churning poison instead of nectar” within the opposition alliance, and suggested that many of the alliance’s current troubles could be traced back to Congress’ own actions.
The Congress is yet to issue an official response to the Murasoli editorial. However, Congress sources rejected the allegations, maintaining that the party had acted in accordance with the people’s verdict in Tamil Nadu. “The Congress has respected the people’s mandate in Tamil Nadu,” a party source said, dismissing suggestions that the party had undermined either the DMK or the INDIA bloc.
While its INDIA Bloc partners are attacking the Congress for weakening the opposition unity, the Congress itself was also showing fresh factional fights within the party, particularly in its Madhya Pradesh unit after the embarrassing loss of a Rajya Sabha seat due to the rejection of nomination by the returning officer of its candidate Meenakshi Natarajan on technical grounds.
A video from the party’s recent press conference has once again put the spotlight on former Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh, state chief Jitu Patwari and state in-charge Harish Chaudhary. In the clip, Jitu Patwari is seen asking Digvijaya Singh to shift from his seat. Digvijaya Singh gets up and moves to a side chair. Moments later, Patwari is heard saying, “Please stay right here, Sir,” but by then Digvijaya Singh had already moved aside. Harish Chaudhary then takes the seat next to Digvijaya Singh, followed by Meenakshi Natarajan.
Two other clips had also sparked discussions in the political circles. In one, Digvijaya Singh is seen gesturing to call JP Dhanopia, while Harish Chaudhary appears to signal him to remain calm. Moments later, Digvijaya Singh is seen folding his hands before Chaudhary. In another video, Patwari asks Digvijaya Singh to speak on the microphone, but the former Chief Minister refuses.
One supporter of Digvijaya Singh posted on social media, calling this “an insult to the ‘Raja’ is an insult to us, expect nothing from us.” Such public displays of awkwardness and confrontation among the top leadership of the Madhya Pradesh Congress make it clear that factionalism, previously confined to closed-door meetings, has now spilled out into the open.
The BJP has also seized the videos and turned it into a political weapon against the Congress. BJP state president Hemant Khandelwal said senior leaders should not be humiliated in this manner. He said internal discord and differences of opinion have existed within the Congress since its inception, but there should be no conflict with senior leaders. Khandelwal said the Congress now needs to introspect the direction in which it is heading.
Jitu Patwari, however, has denied that Digvijaya Singh was made to move deliberately. He said, “I did not make him move. Digvijaya Singh ji is our senior leader and mentor.” According to Patwari, the request was made only to adjust seating so that Harish Chaudhary could sit beside Meenakshi Natarajan.
The visuals have given fresh ammunition to the BJP at a time when the Congress is already battling the fallout of Meenakshi Natarajan’s rejected nomination. What should have been a united political response to the Rajya Sabha controversy has instead become a discussion on Congress infighting.
Former minister PC Sharma, however, defended Digvijaya Singh and said it was impossible for anyone to sideline him in the present political scenario. He said former chief ministers Kamal Nath and Digvijaya Singh remain essential to the Congress and that party workers were naturally demoralized after the Meenakshi Natarajan episode.
Comments are closed.