Rahul Gandhi is expected to meet DMK president and Chief Minister MK Stalin, and reach a consensus on sharing seats for the polls.
Published Jan 03, 2026 | 10:54 PM ⚊ Updated Jan 03, 2026 | 10:54 PM
Rahul Gandhi.
Synopsis: During his 10-day visit — unlike the earlier ones that lasted one or two days — Rahul Gandhi may take out a padayatra — or foot march — across poll-bound Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Puducherry.
Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is likely to make an extended trip to Tamil Nadu by January-end.
During his 10-day visit — unlike the earlier ones that lasted one or two days — he may take out a padayatra — or foot march — across Assembly poll-bound Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Puducherry, sources close to TNCC president K Selvaperunthagai said on Saturday, 3 January.
AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge and national general secretary Priyanka Gandhi, too, are expected to visit the state.
The Congress in Tamil Nadu has been facing several controversies since December. Reports even claimed that the Congress was planning to exit the DMK-led alliance and align with the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). It was also reported that the party had demanded Cabinet berths.
Further controversies arose when Praveen Chakravarty, a Congress functionary close to Rahul Gandhi, met TVK leader Vijay and remarked that Tamil Nadu was among the leading states in terms of borrowing. His statement triggered widespread criticism.
Additionally, Congress MP Manickam Tagore criticised alliance leaders who opposed Chakravarty’s comments. Similarly, MP Jyothimani Sennimalai tweeted that the Tamil Nadu Congress was heading to doom.
Tamil Nadu Congress in-charge Girish Chodankar, on Saturday, clarified that the Congress would continue its alliance with the DMK. Denying holding talks with the TVK, he urged party members to refrain from airing internal organisational matters in public.
This time, the Tamil Nadu Congress is planning to turn Rahul Gandhi’s visit into a major political event rather than a routine tour.
As part of this visit, Rahul Gandhi will tour Tamil Nadu and Puducherry in thiss 10days plan. During the yatra, the three leaders plan to undertake foot marches in select villages and roadshows in urban areas.
Notably, they will also meet newly appointed office-bearers of village committees that were recently restructured as part of the Congress’s organisational revamp.
Talks with DMK
During his visit, Rahul Gandhi is expected to meet DMK president and Chief Minister MK Stalin, and reach a consensus on sharing seats for the polls. All processes related to seat-sharing are expected to be completed by February.
When asked about the possibility of Rahul Gandhi meeting Vijay, sources replied in the negative and said that the TVK leader was free to visit the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.
With the Congress initiating seat-sharing discussions nearly four months ahead of the Assembly elections—something unprecedented—the party aims to complete these processes ahead of other parties and focus fully on election work.
Additionally, with the Congress currently enjoying a relatively stable position in Tamil Nadu, Rahul Gandhi’s visit is likely to decisively end the controversies rocking the party.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
