Congress getting back on track is what India needs right now, says DMK chief MK Stalin

An alliance to remember

In an exclusive interview to PTI, Stalin said that it was important to form a “national alliance” to fight the BJP to safeguard the independent functioning of the country’s constitutional institutions.

The DMK chief said that the Tamil Nadu model of a strong regional party’s alliance with the national party at the state level is a model that can be replicated in other states across the country.

Rahul Gandhi fights the BJP not only on electoral lines but also on ideological lines, he said and added that the Congress leader’s Bharat Jodo Yatra has become a “huge sensation” among the people.

In a symbolic gesture to mark the commencement of the Yatra in Kanniyakumari in Tamil Nadu on 7 September, Stalin had handed over the national flag to Rahul Gandhi.

Today, my brother @RahulGandhi has begun a journey to retrieve India's soul, to uphold the lofty ideals of our republic and to unite our country's people with love.

There can be no better place than Kumari, where the Statue of Equality stands tall, to start #BharatJodoYatra. pic.twitter.com/28d02YwXII

— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) September 7, 2022

Stalin also said that efforts made by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi to strengthen the party’s organisational structure have started to yield benefits.

Excerpts from the interview

Apart from Himachal Pradesh, the Congress has maintained a very poor showing electorally in the recently held elections in the country. What do you think is the reason for the Indian National Congress Party’s declining political prospects?

I do not reckon that the Congress party has lost its relevance or importance at the national level. The efforts taken by Sonia Gandhi to strengthen the organisational structure of the Congress have started to yield benefits. Senior leader (Mallikarjun) Kharge leads the party to resurgence with his vast experience. The Bharat Jodo Yatra of brother Rahul Gandhi has become a huge sensation among the people. It is creating a visible impact across the Union. The morale of the Congress party cadre is at a new high. Congress getting back on track is what India needs now.

You have unequivocally backed Rahul Gandhi’s political leadership. Do you think Rahul Gandhi could have played a more significant role in campaigning for his party in the Gujarat elections? Do you believe that Rahul Gandhi could lead the Congress party at a national level to emerge as a strong opposition to the BJP?

I find Rahul Gandhi to be a promising young leader. Senior leaders like P Chidambaram have analysed the performance of the Congress in Gujarat election results and expressed their comments. The arguments Rahul Gandhi puts forth in the Parliament are rock-solid. He has a crystal-clear approach on many pertinent issues. He understands that the diverse nature of India is what protects its integrity. He opposes the politics of communal hatred and the domination of one language.

These qualities make him the ideal antidote to BJP’s parochial politics. Rahul Gandhi fights the BJP not only on electoral lines but also on ideological lines. This is why Rahul is being targeted by BJP. It actually shows his strength.

How do you think an electoral alliance with the Congress party has helped the DMK so far? Will DMK’s alliance with Congress continue in future elections? More specifically in the upcoming Parliamentary elections in 2024?

We strongly feel that our Constitution must be safeguarded. There should not be any dilution of the core values and principles that our founding fathers have handed over to us. We, who want our constitutional institutions to function independently, propose for a national alliance that includes the Indian National Congress. The DMK in Tamil Nadu has already formed such an alliance and made it a successful model to implement elsewhere.

Also Read: Karti Chidambaram interview: Congress in TN is in no-man’s-land

(Disclaimer: Only the headline, subheads, and intro of this report along with the photos may have been reworked by South First. The rest of the content is from a syndicated feed)