Only those who give due respect to Cong can become TN CM: Manickam Tagore

With the Tamil Nadu Congress flexing its muscles ahead of the 2026 assembly election to make a better bargain in seat-sharing from big brother, the ruling DMK, Congress whip in parliament Manickam Tagore said only those who accord due respect to the party could become the chief minister of this Dravidian heartland.

“Becoming chief minister is possible only if the Congress is given due respect otherwise, remain content at being former Chief Minister. Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi would campaign and all of us would work for victory only if the Congress gets respect,” he told reporters at his constituency, Virudhunagar, in response to a question on Wednesday evening. This is seen as a veiled but strong message to the DMK.

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When asked whether his analogy of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) not joining hands with the Grand Old Party and losing the elections in Delhi and Haryana holds good for Tamil Nadu, Tagore, a close associate of Rahul Gandhi, said “Coordinating accommodating the constituents of the INDIA Bloc should not be left to the Congress alone.

“All the parties in the alliance have that responsibility. Giving up for others alone can’t be the role of the Congress and no party should think that they can enjoy ministerial berths by getting the votes of the Congress without anything in return. See the AAP not only lost Delhi, but now their position has become precarious.”

Expressing confidence about continuing rift in the seat sharing among the INDIA Bloc in Bihar, she said “the issue concerns the constituencies going to polling in the second phase. It will be resolved amicably by holding talks with the leaders in a couple of days.”

On whether the Congress will stake claim for Virudhunagar, now held by the ruling DMK, he said “Virudhunagar is the birth place of late Congress stalwart and former Chief Minister K Kamaraj. The TNCC will apprise of this to the party leadership. Every party will desire to contest as many constituencies as possible, but everything will be finalised only after seat sharing is completed.

There have been voices in the Congress demanding a share in power post-election, rather than playing second fiddle. Tagore joins that list following Sivaganga MP, Karthi Chidambaram and CLP leader S Rajeshkumar, legislator from Killiyoor in Kanniyakumari district.

The demand for power sharing has gained momentum ever since actor and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president Vijay’s open call to other parties that the TVK will run a coalition government giving due share in power to the allies. Though no party had teamed up with the film star, the idea has gained traction in the political discourse.