'We carried Congress on our shoulders': DMK mocks Rahul Gandhi
What's the story
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has launched a scathing attack on former ally and Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi. The party's IT wing called Gandhi "a massive joke," while its official mouthpiece, Murasoli, accused him of weakening opposition unity. The criticism comes after the Congress party left the DMK-led alliance in Tamil Nadu after the state polls to join the Vijay-led TVK government.
DMK
'Brother hasn't grown up at all'
In a post on X, the DMK's IT Wing wrote, "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. It just proves that the "brother" hasn't grown up at all; he's still a massive joke." "Don't come running back to us when the tide turns."
Unity questioned
Murasoli editorial accuses Gandhi of undermining opposition unity
Meanwhile, the Murasoli editorial accused Gandhi of preaching opposition unity while allegedly undermining it. It cited criticism from Left parties in Kerala, who objected to Gandhi's calls for the arrest of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, saying such attacks prompted Left leaders to question whether the Congress was more interested in targeting its allies than targeting the BJP. It questioned how Congress could speak of opposition unity when alliance partners accused it of undermining their prospects.
State betrayal
Editorial draws parallels with Tamil Nadu politics
The Murasoli editorial alleged that Congress legislators joined the TVK-led government with central leadership's approval. The editorial mocked Gandhi's "political immaturity" for friction within INDIA bloc and asked who was responsible for "churning poison instead of nectar." Murasoli charged that in every state that held assembly elections, the Congress used every conceivable trick to prevent its coalition partners from gaining power, saying, "After doing so, is it not shameful to seek their support again when the parliamentary elections approach?"
Party response
Congress dismisses allegations
The DMK mouthpiece further stated that the Left parties, Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, and others have strongly criticized Gandhi's conduct, claiming that he acted in a way that weakened opposition unity. "Rahul Gandhi had not anticipated this reaction. At a meeting called to discuss opposition to the BJP, criticism against...Congress dominated the proceedings," Murasoli stated. The Congress has not officially responded. However, party sources dismissed the allegations, telling NDTV they acted according to the people's verdict in Tamil Nadu.