Rift in INDI alliance? Congress leader Praveen Chakravarty says DMK-ruled Tamil Nadu’s debt is higher than UP’s
What triggered the controversy
The controversy began when Congress functionary Praveen Chakravarty posted on X that Tamil Nadu’s debt situation was “alarming”. His comment came in response to DMK MP Kanimozhi’s statement that the state had grown under the DMK government despite debt.
“In 2010, UP had more than double the debt of TN. Now, TN has higher debt than UP,” Praveen said.
“TN’s interest burden (%) is 3rd highest after Punjab and Haryana. TN’s debt/gdp is still much higher than pre-covid levels. TN’s debt situation is alarming,” he said.
The post quickly snowballed into a political flashpoint.
DMK hits back
DMK leaders rejected Praveen’s claims, saying Tamil Nadu remained one of the strongest performers among Indian states. DMK spokesperson Salem Dharanidharan said that on economic indicators, Tamil Nadu stood well ahead of Uttar Pradesh and several other states.
“Tamil Nadu’s per capita GDP – avg approx income of an individual has exponential increased in comparison to UP ( or India itself ),” he said.
Former DMK MP Dr S Senthil Kumar went a step further, suggesting political motives behind the remarks.
“Congress is looking at alternatives. Their national & state leaders are being pressurised by some TN factions. Some never learn,” Senthil said on X.
Congress distances itself
The criticism did not stop with the DMK. Leaders within the Congress also sought to draw a line between the party and Praveen’s comparison.
Congress MP Jothimani said it was not right to compare Tamil Nadu with Uttar Pradesh. She said Tamil Nadu was far ahead in infrastructure and development and could not be bracketed with UP on economic grounds.
The reactions signalled unease within the Congress, especially as the comments came from a party member in a state where it depends heavily on the DMK as an ally.
BJP calls it self goal, questions Rahul Gandhi
The BJP, meanwhile, welcomed Praveen’s statement and used the moment to attack the DMK and its leadership.
BJP spokesperson Kesavan mocked Congress by comparing Chakravarty’s statement to a self-goal, and asked if Lok Sabha leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi agrees with his party member’s remark on the DMK.
“The Congress does a shocking self-goal to expose the disastrous failure model DMK Govt. Does Rahul Gandhi concur with this view that the DMK Govt has utterly failed the people of Tamil Nadu? Do the Tamilnadu CM and Deputy CM agree with this damning view of their ally, the Congress party, that the DMK Govt has plummeted and wrecked the Tamilnadu economy to ruins?” Kesavan said in a post on X.
Further, the BJP leader compared the DMK government to a “directionless car.” “The disastrous DMK Govt is similar to a directionless car. The DMK’s unjust, insensitive misrule has been one of the darkest chapters in the history of Tamil Nadu,” he wrote.
BJP’s Tamil Nadu leader K Annamalai also attacked DMK and its alliance partner Congress. “Falsehoods come effortlessly to the DMK and especially to the Gopalapuram family, who have earned a PhD in Lying. It’s welcome that a member from a partner within the I.N.D.I. Alliance, one that understands data, is publicly calling out these distortions.
In just five years, the DMK has doubled Tamil Nadu’s debt, while conveniently using borrowings to cover-up deficits and project inflated growth narratives.
The bigger question, however, is: what’s really brewing between the DMK and the Congress? The public spatting of the UPA era appears to be making a comeback.”
INDI Alliance tensions back in focus
With allies trading barbs in public and rivals amplifying the cracks, the debt debate has turned into more than a numbers game. It has brought internal equations within the I.N.D.I. Alliance under the spotlight, raising fresh questions about coordination, messaging, and trust among partners against the ruling NDA at the Centre.
(Inputs from TOI and agencies)
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