CPI(M) urges Congress to stay in DMK front; power-sharing talks delayed
CPI(M) urges Congress to stay in DMK front; power-sharing talks delayed
CPI(M) Tamil Nadu secretary says Congress should remain in the DMK-led front for now, arguing power-sharing is premature and could strain the coalition.
In Tamil Nadu, CPI(M) Tamil Nadu state secretary P. Shanmugam addressed the media on Monday to respond to the Congress’s recent discussions about power-sharing within the DMK-led front. He framed the issue as one that is ill-timed and unnecessary at this juncture, arguing that maintaining the current alliance arrangement serves the interests of the entire coalition and the Congress itself.
Shanmugam suggested that if the Congress were to quit the front, there would be some damage to the coalition, though he did not foresee it necessarily derailing the DMK-led alliance’s chances of victory. He emphasized that the alliance does not have a common minimum programme or manifesto, which, in his view, makes premature power-sharing demands inappropriate before the election.
The ministerial-level stance highlighted by Shanmugam is rooted in the belief that post‑election dynamics would naturally come into play only if the DMK failed to secure a majority and had to seek support from allies to form a government. Until such a scenario arises, he argued, there is no need for a formal discussion on power-sharing.
On the CPI(M)’s own participation in government, he underscored that the party’s policy is not to join a government led by another party, signaling that the CPI(M) would refrain from being part of a coalition government regardless of the circumstances.
Regarding the ongoing ripples within the Congress, Shanmugam noted that there has been talk about Congress leaders potentially aligning with Tamilaga Vettai Kazhagam (TVK), a possibility that remains speculative. He added that any final decision would rest with the Congress high command in Delhi, and as of now, senior leaders including Congress president Kharge and other top figures had not publicly endorsed any specific alignment with TVK or a pre‑election power-share arrangement. The impression, he said, should not be drawn that the Congress has a hidden plan beyond what is discussed in Tamil Nadu; a conclusive stance will only emerge from Delhi.
Overall, Shanmugam’s comments portray a preference for preserving the DMK-led front’s stability ahead of the elections, while signaling caution about any pre‑emptive power-sharing negotiations that could complicate the coalition’s unity.
