Chennai: Amid criticism from opposition parties over Rahul Gandhi not holding any campaign visits to Tamil Nadu even after the completion of seat-sharing talks, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee said the Congress leader would tour the state later this month and address four rallies in different parts of the state.As per the tentative plan, Rahul would address the campaign meetings over a period of two to three days. The exact dates and venue would be announced once the plan is finalised, said TNCC president K Selvaperunthagai. Opposition parties, however, questioned the delay. BJP state vice-president N Jayaprakash said Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Tamil Nadu three times this year so far. “The prime minister visits the state frequently because he is concerned about the welfare of Tamil people,” he said, asking why Gandhi visited Kerala and Telangana but chose not to visit TN. BJP leader Vinoj P Selvam said the only time Rahul came to Tamil Nadu this year was to visit a school in Gudalur, close to his Wayanad constituency. AIADMK functionaries alleged that Rahul’s absence from campaign activity was a sign of friction in DMK–Congress alliance. “Forget campaigning, Rahul did not even post a congratulatory message on the finalising of seat-sharing talks,” he said. Though Congress was demanding 35 seats and a share in power, DMK turned down both demands, leaving the Congress to settle for 28 seats. During the campaign for the 2021 assembly election in the state, Rahul had made multiple visits to the state, including a three-day tour in Jan during which he held roadshows and addressed public meetings. Selvaperunthagai denied the charges, attributing the delay in Rahul’s visit to the standard operating procedures (SOP) governing political meetings in the state. Under the existing rules, applications for major rallies by parties have to be submitted two to four weeks in advance, he said.
