Tamil Nadu Congress infighting deepens as MP warns party is heading towards “destruction”

The Tamil Nadu Congress is facing fresh internal turmoil after Lok Sabha MP S Jothimani publicly accused the state unit of moving towards political self-destruction, citing internal selfishness and persistent infighting.

Her sharp remarks, made on Friday, come at a sensitive moment with the Tamil Nadu Assembly election scheduled for March–April 2026, when organisational cohesion is considered critical.

Strong dissent from within

In a social media post, S Jothimani, who represents Karur in Parliament, said the current functioning of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) runs counter to the values championed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

She said the party’s state unit was drifting away from what she described as selfless, principled and fearless politics, warning that such a course could not be justified in the name of internal power struggles.

“We cannot betray Rahul Gandhi’s hard work and sacrifice,” she stated, without naming any individual leader in the state unit.

Serious allegation ahead of elections

Among her most serious charges was an allegation that internal elements within the party had attempted to block the submission of a list of polling station agents to the Election Commission.

She described this as unprecedented, saying no political party would undermine its own MP’s election-related responsibilities when polls are approaching.

This allegation, if proven, could have direct implications for the party’s electoral preparedness.

Party leadership responds cautiously

TNCC President K Selvaperunthagai declined to respond publicly to the criticism.

However, sources close to him dismissed the claims, saying the allegations were “not true” and did not reflect the ground reality of the organisation.

There has been no official statement from the All India Congress Committee so far.

Pattern of public discord

Jothimani also pointed out that the Tamil Nadu Congress has frequently made headlines for internal disputes rather than public issues.

According to her, daily controversies, diluted political activity and weakening ideological clarity are creating distress among party workers and supporters.

Political observers note that repeated public disagreements could damage the party’s ability to project unity, especially as regional rivals strengthen their grassroots networks.