Rahul Gandhi’s absence fuels alliance friction buzz | India News
CHENNAI: In the past two months, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has visited Tamil Nadu three times, campaigning for the BJP and its allies, and will visit the state again on April 15 to seek votes for NDA candidates in Nagercoil. On the contrary, the Congress Rahul Gandhi So far he has not preached even once in the state.His absence has created a strong buzz that all is not well in the Congress-DMK alliance. Poll watchers compared it to the previous assembly elections, when he began campaigning in January 2021 with a three-day visit to Tamil Nadu.Congress workers in the state said Rahul’s campaign schedule is yet to be firmed up, but as per tentative plans, he will visit Assam, Kerala and Puducherry after the first phase of polls.Rahul went to Puducherry on Monday, the last day of campaigning. And, even as he sought support for “Congress candidates and alliance candidates”, he studiously avoided mentioning alliance partner DMK and its incumbent MK Stalin.Stalin was also in Puducherry on the same day, but their campaign schedule was planned in such a way that they did not cross paths. While Rahul campaigned in the morning, Stalin visited in the evening.“Rahul did not even mention Stalin’s name in his speech,” said a DMK official. Stalin did not mention him either. Political observers said it could be a result of conflict between the two parties during the seat-sharing talks.A DMK official said that no effort was made by the DMK for a meeting between Rahul and Stalin. DMK organizing secretary, RS Bharti said that the two alliances had planned their public meeting well in advance and could not change it at the last minute to hold a joint meeting. However, he said that the two will campaign together soon.A senior Congress official said Rahul plans to visit TN after April 10.
