Chennai, December 29, 2025 - Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) President K. Selvaperunthagai has strongly criticized remarks made by Congress functionary Praveen Chakravarty regarding Tamil Nadu's debt levels, asserting the strength and stability of the DMK alliance. Selvaperunthagai labeled Chakravarty's statements as "unacceptable," suggesting they were intended to sow discord within the INDIA bloc.
Chakravarty, who heads the All India Professionals' Congress and the Indian National Congress's Data Analytics Department, had disputed claims made by DMK Parliamentary party leader Kanimozhi that the M.K. Stalin government had transformed a debt-ridden Tamil Nadu into a developed state. Chakravarty's social media posts compared Tamil Nadu's debt levels with those of Uttar Pradesh, describing the situation as "alarming" and questioning the DMK's governance. He pointed out that Tamil Nadu's debt has surpassed that of Uttar Pradesh, with the state's interest burden ranking as the third-highest in the country.
Selvaperunthagai firmly stated that Chakravarty's remarks do not reflect the official position of the TNCC. He clarified that only statements made by himself, All India Congress Committee Tamil Nadu in-charge Girish Chodankar, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, and party leader Rahul Gandhi represent the party's official stance. He further added that the statistics provided by Chakravarty were "distorted" and that the DMK government has effectively managed the state's finances. "The Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu regimes cannot be compared. It is unfair," Selvaperunthagai asserted.
The controversy arose amidst growing demands from within the Congress party for a greater role in the Tamil Nadu government and increased seat allocation in the upcoming 2026 Assembly elections. Some Congress leaders have been advocating for a power-sharing agreement with the DMK, a departure from the current arrangement where all cabinet ministers are DMK members. Simultaneously, there have been discussions about the possibility of forming an alliance with actor Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), a move that has caused friction within the Congress and the DMK.
Congress MP Jothimani also countered Chakravarty's statements, arguing that it is misleading to compare Tamil Nadu with Uttar Pradesh without considering development outcomes and governance quality. She highlighted Tamil Nadu's strong performance in education, healthcare, and social welfare. Jothimani emphasized that debt should be assessed alongside outcomes, noting that Tamil Nadu's borrowings have been used to build essential infrastructure and social security programs.
Despite these internal disagreements, Selvaperunthagai has moved to dispel any speculation of potential talks with TVK, and has insisted that the TNCC is solely focused on negotiations with their ally, the DMK. DMK leaders have privately expressed their expectation that the AICC will clarify Congress's commitment to the alliance. Chief Minister Stalin has underscored the ideological alignment between the DMK and Congress, reaffirming their strong relationship. The DMK has traditionally been against power sharing in the state.
