He emphasised that grassroots engagement and accountability could play a pivotal role in shaping the future of Congress in Tamil Nadu.
Published Feb 24, 2025 | 7:07 PM ⚊ Updated Feb 24, 2025 | 7:07 PM
Sasikanth Senthil.
Synopsis: Congress MP Sasikanth Senthil shares his thoughts on the current political landscape, fund allocation disparities, and the future of his party in Tamil Nadu. His reflections highlight the complex dynamics of Tamil Nadu’s political landscape. He emphasised that grassroots engagement and accountability could play a pivotal role in shaping the future of Congress in the state.
An IAS officer-turned-politician, Sasikanth Senthil is now representing the Tiruvallur constituency of Tamil Nadu in the Lok Sabha, as a Congress MP. He brings his administrative experience and grassroots activism into the political arena.
Known for his straightforward opinions, he spoke with South First from the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) office amid the celebrations marking K Selvaperunthagai’s first anniversary as the party’s state president.
Senthil shared his thoughts on the current political landscape, fund allocation disparities, and the future of Congress in Tamil Nadu.
His reflections highlight the complex dynamics of Tamil Nadu’s political landscape. As he navigates the challenges of fund disparities, social justice, and party revival, he remains steadfast in his commitment to public service.
With the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections on the horizon, he emphasised that grassroots engagement and accountability could play a pivotal role in shaping the future of Congress in the state.
Q: Instead of releasing Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) funds, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan accused the Tamil Nadu government of politicising students’ education. What do you think of this as a Member of Parliament?
A: I found it quite funny that the Union Education Minister said this. He has the mandated duty to release the funds for education as promised to the state.
The money is collected from the states; in another way, it’s the parents of Tamil Nadu who paid this money, expecting it to go towards the education of Tamil Nadu’s children.
The Union government is merely a broker in between. They have no valid reason to stop our money from returning to our state.
Q: As an MP, considering the last budget showed wide disparities in fund allocation to Tamil Nadu and other Southern states, with over ₹1 lakh crore lost from Union funds, what is your action plan to address this?
A: Fund disparities have been a continuous issue raised in Parliament. Unfortunately, this government neither has the ears to listen nor the moral or ethical bearings to understand what people are saying.
Our only recourse is to take this issue to the streets and ultimately to the elections. As a political party, we will do whatever is necessary to ensure that the funds, which rightfully belong to us, come back to our state.
Q: In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the INDIA bloc won more than 200 seats. However, in the recent elections in Maharashtra and Delhi, the alliance, especially Congress, faced significant losses. Do you think the Aam Aadmi Party played a crucial role in BJP’s win in Delhi?
A: I wouldn’t say that. Every party has the right to contest Assembly elections. Assembly alliances are not directly linked to Union alliances; they are fought on different equations.
Accusing the Aam Aadmi Party or the Congress of cutting into votes isn’t a rational perspective.
Q: Recently, there has been a rise in caste-related issues and concerns about women’s safety in Tamil Nadu. While the Tamil Nadu government is addressing them, what is Congress’ stance on these issues?
A: These issues have been ongoing for a long time, not just recently. As a state, we haven’t fully overcome caste atrocities or patriarchal violence against women.
A comprehensive approach is needed. That said, those in power bear additional responsibilities.
As a political party, we have a duty to apply pressure on those in power to ensure these issues are addressed. However, beyond that, all of us, including myself, share a broader responsibility to work towards resolving these deep-rooted problems.
Q: Congress was once the ruling party in Tamil Nadu but now contests for far fewer seats. In the upcoming elections, can we expect Congress to contest more seats?
A: Elections are just one part of the bigger picture. The real question is whether Congress, as a party, is active and returning to its former glory. That’s where our current PCC President plays a crucial role.
He has revived the organisational structure and initiated important changes. It will take time, but we are focused on bringing Congress back to the ground and rebuilding its strength.
Q: How deep is Congress’ presence at the grassroots level?
A: That’s exactly where we are focusing our efforts. We are initiating grassroots village committees, which were once the backbone of Congress. These committees are slowly coming back, and we have a lot of faith that this will strengthen our base over time.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
