Negotiations with DMK progressing well: TNCC president

Tamil Nadu Congress president K. Selvaperunthagai reports positive progress in DMK negotiations, criticizing media speculation on the alliance.

Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K. Selvaperunthagai on Saturday said that the seat sharing negotiations between the DMK and Congress are progressing well, here at Sathyamurthy Bhavan in Chennai.

Speaking to the reporters, he criticised the “pointless speculation” in the media over the alliance, linking the Congress and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam. Taking a veiled dig at Congress leader Praveen Chakravarthy, who recently acknowledged meeting Mr. Vijay but refused to confirm what was discussed, Mr. Selvaperunthagai said, “The leadership will take a decision that is good for the people of Tamil Nadu and the Congress party. Did any of those who are authorised to speak about the alliance speak to TVK? Did Girish Chodankar or myself speak to TVK? We cannot be answerable just because some random persons go and speak to Vijay.”

“The wishes of some people to reduce vote share of the INDIA bloc and TNCC will not allow such efforts. The All India Congress Committee will never be party to such efforts,” he said.

Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Pawan Khera accused the Prime Minister Narendra Modi of not helping the textile and leather industry of Tamil Nadu, which has been reeling under the impact of U.S. government’s tariffs despite claiming to have the best interests of the Tamil people.