A key event of the Social Progressive Alliance (SPA) in Tamil Nadu witnessed a notable absence on Friday, as the Congress party chose to boycott the equality march organized by MDMK chief Vaiko in Trichy. The march was officially flagged off by Chief Minister M K Stalin.
Reason for the Boycott: An Image That Stirred Pain
The Congress stated its decision to skip the event was a direct response to the invitation, which featured an image of the late Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran. The party cited deep emotional distress, as Prabhakaran was an accused in the assassination of former Congress president and Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
L Rex, president of the Trichy urban district Congress unit, clarified the party's stance, saying the picture was "unnecessary" and that the pain of losing their leader persists. He emphasized, however, that the boycott was not aimed at MDMK leader Vaiko, whom he called a "great leader," and assured that the incident would not affect the alliance between the DMK and Congress.
Who Attended the SPA Rally?
Despite the Congress's absence, the rally saw participation from senior leaders of other SPA constituents. Notable attendees included:
- Thol Thirumavalavan, MP and president of the VCK.
- KM Kader Mohideen, president of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML).
- A Arunachalam, general secretary of the MNM.
Representatives from the CPI, CPM, and MMK at the district level, along with elected members, were also present. The boycott was observed by both state and district-level functionaries of the Congress party.
Context and Speculation Within the Alliance
The boycott comes at a sensitive time for the SPA. It follows recent controversial remarks by Praveen Chakravarty, Chairman of the Professionals' Congress and Data Analytics, comparing the debt profiles of Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh. This had already sparked tension within the coalition.
Congress leaders were quick to dismiss any link between their boycott and the fallout from Praveen's statement. TNCC president K Selvaperunthagai in Chennai stated succinctly that their conscience did not permit participation, adding, "Congress did not go. We have no necessity to state reasons."
The event underscores the delicate balance within political alliances, where historical grievances and symbolic gestures can momentarily overshadow present-day partnerships, even as leaders assert the underlying strength of their coalition.
