Chennai: As the Tamil Nadu Assembly election campaign enters its final phase, the continued delay in Congress leader Rahul Gandhi announcing his tour schedule has reportedly become a point of concern for the party’s state unit and its alliance partner, the DMK, amid heightened political activity.
Despite securing 28 seats through intense negotiations, Congress has yet to witness its top leadership actively participate in Tamil Nadu.
At a time when rival parties have ramped up aggressive, high-decibel campaigning, the absence of Rahul Gandhi has left many candidates feeling disadvantaged in key constituencies.
Within the TNCC, there is increasing pressure from grassroots workers and leaders for the participation of Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who are viewed as the party’s strongest crowd-pullers. Their presence, leaders believe, could significantly energise the cadre and improve the party’s visibility in the closing phase of the campaign.
Currently, TNCC President K. Selvaperunthagai and other senior leaders are actively engaging in statewide outreach efforts to energise the party base. However, there is growing demand within the party ranks for the presence of national leaders such as Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, who are widely seen as key vote-pullers capable of boosting the party’s electoral prospects.
According to party sources, Rahul Gandhi has yet to finalise dates for his Tamil Nadu tour. Internal differences within the TNCC are reportedly linked to his hesitation, creating unease at the national level.
At the same time, Congress leaders have been vocal in criticising the BJP over the proposed delimitation exercise scheduled for April 16 -18, indicating that the party’s focus remains divided between organisational issues and political messaging.
The delay has also fuelled speculation about a possible strain in ties between Rahul Gandhi and DMK President M.K. Stalin. Notably, although both leaders campaigned in neighbouring Puducherry on the same day recently, they did not share the stage, further contributing to the perception of a lack of coordination within the alliance.
Congress leaders are particularly concerned, as the party relies heavily on the DMK’s organisational strength for grassroots mobilisation.
Rahul Gandhi’s absence, they fear, could weaken their electoral push at a crucial juncture.
Tamil Nadu Congress in-charge Girish Chodankar has stated that Rahul Gandhi’s campaign itinerary will be announced soon. However, with the campaign deadline fast approaching, the delay has heightened anxiety within the Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA), especially amid expectations of a closely contested election.
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Caption: Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during a rally in support of party candidates ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections in Raiganj, Uttar Dinajpur district of West Bengal, on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. (Photo: IANS)
–IANS
