Pudukottai , 07 June (H.S.):Senior DMK leader and former Rajya Sabha member R.S. Bharathi on Sunday ruled out any possibility of a future alliance with the Congress and dismissed the recent rise of Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) as a temporary political phenomenon, while expressing confidence in the DMK’s prospects ahead of the local body elections.

Addressing reporters in Pudukkottai, Bharathi said the political relationship between the DMK and the Congress had come to an end and there was no question of reviving the alliance in the future. He maintained that the separation was final and asserted that DMK cadre would not support any attempt to bring the Congress back into the fold.

His remarks came amid recent criticism from Congress leaders regarding the DMK’s performance and alliance politics. Taking a swipe at Congress leader Manickam Tagore, Bharathi said leaders of the national party should first assess their own political standing before commenting on other parties.

The veteran DMK leader also exuded confidence about the party’s strength at the grassroots level and challenged political opponents to prove their popularity in the upcoming local body elections. Calling for the polls to be held as early as January, he said local body elections were the true test of a party’s organisational strength and public support.

Bharathi reiterated that the DMK remained firmly committed to its Dravidian ideology and ruled out any possibility of aligning with the BJP. He said the party would continue to pursue its political course independently and remain focused on issues affecting the people of Tamil Nadu.

Commenting on the growing trend of political defections, Bharathi criticised what he described as an emerging “Aya Ram Gaya Ram” culture in Tamil Nadu politics. He argued that politicians who switch parties for positions and power seldom enjoy long-term success and predicted that many recent defectors would eventually return to their original parties.

Bharathi also sought to downplay TVK’s recent electoral success, arguing that the party’s rise was driven largely by the popularity of its founder rather than by a strong ideological base. He said the real challenge for the party would be meeting public expectations in government and sustaining its support over the long term.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman