Manickam Tagore takes potshots at those criticising Congress for supporting TVK

Amid hectic talks over government formation in Tamil Nadu, Congress leader Manickam Tagore on Friday took potshots at those criticising his party for supporting the TVK, saying it has been anti-BJP from day one and the Congress has stood with that.

Amid hectic talks over government formation in Tamil Nadu, Congress leader Manickam Tagore on Friday took potshots at those criticising his party for supporting the TVK, saying it has been anti-BJP from day one and the Congress has stood with that. Tagore justified the Congress support to the TVK to ''respect the people's mandate'' in forming a stable government and to keep the NDA out of power in the southern state. ''RG called Stalin. RG called Mamata. On result day itself. Next morning - RG backed Mamata publicly. Said BJP stole 100 seats in Bengal. Congress supported TVK - to respect the people's mandate, to form a stable government, to keep NDA OUT. ''And now - Godi media blames Congress. Pro-DMK media blames Congress. But DMK is talking to AIADMK. With BJP's blessings. That's practically NDA by another name. So tell me, should Congress have helped NDA come to power?!'' Tagore said in a post on X. ''TVK has been anti-BJP from day one. Congress stood with that. No apologies,'' the Congress leader, who is an MP from Virudhunagar in Tamil Nadu, said. He is also the Congress whip in the Lok Sabha. Meanwhile, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge spoke to CPI general secretary D Raja and urged his party to support the TVK for the formation of a secular government in Tamil Nadu, sources said. TVK's chances of forming a government in Tamil Nadu hung in the balance, with the two Left parties on Friday going into a huddle over supporting the fledgling organisation while the VCK kept up the suspense by announcing to make its stand clear on Saturday. Vijay-led Tamilga Vettri Kazhagam, with 108 seats but 10 short of majority, had reached out to CPI, CPI (M) and the VCK -- all DMK allies -- seeking their support to form the government after winning its maiden assembly election in Tamil Nadu, which was held on April 23. The CPI, CPI (M) and VCK won two seats each in the polls. While the two Left parties continued their brain-storming separately, Viduthalai Chiduthaigal Katchi (VCK) said it would hold an online meeting later on Friday to discuss the matter, although it was expected to have the discussions in the morning.