The Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president, K Selvaperunthagai, has officially lodged a complaint with the party's high command against senior All India Congress Committee (AICC) functionary Praveen Chakravarty. This action comes as a significant step towards damage control following Chakravarty's recent social media post that labeled Tamil Nadu's debt situation as "alarming." Selvaperunthagai stated he is now awaiting firm disciplinary action from the leadership.
Controversy Erupts Over Social Media Post
The controversy was ignited by a post on platform X (formerly Twitter) by Praveen Chakravarty, who heads the Congress's data analytics department. His remarks comparing Tamil Nadu's financial health unfavorably, including a comparison with Uttar Pradesh, triggered immediate and strong reactions from within the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and its allies. Senior DMK leaders and coalition partners publicly demanded action against the AICC functionary for his statements.
In a swift move to contain the fallout, TNCC chief Selvaperunthagai distanced the state unit from the comments. He emphasized that Chakravarty's views were not an official stance of the party and pointed out that Praveen Chakravarty is not the TNCC president. Adding weight to this position, AICC in-charge for Tamil Nadu, Girish Chodankar, publicly sided with Selvaperunthagai, confirming his agreement with the state chief's views on the matter.
Senior Leaders Reject Debt Assessment
The criticism of Chakravarty's analysis was not limited to state leaders. On Wednesday, senior Congress leader and former Union Finance Minister, P Chidambaram, strongly disagreed with the assessment. Speaking in Karaikudi, Chidambaram stated, "I don't agree with the remarks of Praveen Chakravarty." He countered the claim by citing a NITI Aayog report, asserting that it recognizes Tamil Nadu as the best performing state in terms of economy.
Amidst the political storm, Selvaperunthagai also played the role of an alliance manager. He revealed that he had personally requested alliance partners not to escalate the issue, reaffirming his confidence that the coalition remains strong and united despite the internal discord.
Congress Focuses on 2026 Preparations
Even as the party dealt with the internal controversy, it continued its organizational work for the upcoming state elections. Selvaperunthagai announced an extension for the submission of applications for candidates wishing to contest the 2026 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election. The deadline has been pushed to January 15.
The party claims an overwhelming response to its call, with Selvaperunthagai reporting that more than 4,000 Congress functionaries have already obtained application forms, indicating robust internal interest for the polls that are two years away.
