Rahul Gandhi Thanks MK Stalin For Birthday Wishes Amid DMK Congress Tensions
On Friday, June 19, 2026, Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Rahul Gandhi thanked former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin in Chennai for his birthday greetings, expressing a shared resolve to continue their joint political fight. The exchange of messages comes during a period of public disagreement and heightened tension between the long-term allies.
Responding to a brief social media post by Stalin wishing him good health and happiness, Gandhi emphasized their ongoing political cooperation. Gandhi stated that their shared resolve to defend the idea of India, the Constitution, and federalism would continue to guide them in what he described as a fight for the soul of democracy, pledging to wage it together until they win.
The public display of solidarity follows recent friction between the DMK and the Congress party. The two allies have traded sharp criticisms over recent post-assembly poll developments. The DMK had previously accused the Congress of being "backsabbers" for joining the TVK, while the Congress criticized the DMK for reportedly failing to respect their political ambitions.
Tensions between the parties escalated further after Gandhi released an audio clip of his speech from an INDIA bloc meeting. The clip revealed intense criticism regarding Gandhi's treatment of alliance partners in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, ultimately resulting in the DMK exiting the bloc. However, Gandhi asserted that the DMK would remain aligned with the Congress to safeguard national interests.
Following these developments, the DMK mouthpiece Murasoli ran a highly critical editorial that accused Gandhi of undermining his allies and labeled his approach as "dishonest" and "immature."
In response to the editorial, Congress leaders S. Rajeshkumar and Viswanathan issued a joint statement calling on the DMK to halt its criticisms of Gandhi. The leaders warned that the DMK risked losing its position as the principal opposition party in the Tamil Nadu assembly if it continued its current approach.
