Expressing satisfaction over Congress high command’s decision to come out of the DMK-led alliance in Tamil Nadu, Congress leader and Tamil Nadu Higher Education Minister P. Viswanathan on Wednesday said the new alliance would sweep the 2029 Lok Sabha polls in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

“No one ever thought that Congress will get a share of power in Tamil Nadu after the Assembly elections. One phone call made by our leader Rahul Gandhi to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, made all the change in Tamil Nadu politics now. Mr. Gandhi extended support to Mr. Vijay for forming the government. After a long time we [Congress] became a part of the government in Tamil Nadu. Earlier, we worked for the DMK to form a government. But we were denied share in power. It was because of the Congress that they were able to win elections, but our workers were ignored,” Mr. Viswanathan said while addressing Congress workers at the Puducherry Pradesh Congress Committee office.

Mr. Viswanathan along with Tamil Nadu Tourism Minister Rajeshkumar, also belonging to the Congress, was in Puducherry at the invitation of the PPCC for a reception organised for them. Addressing workers, Mr. Viswanathan said he was one of the proponents of the Congress entering into a post-poll alliance with the TVK in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. Mr. Gandhi was also in favour of the alliance with the TVK but he was dissuaded by some Congress members, he noted. 

“Some crafty persons within our party spoiled the alliance with the TVK. If we had had a pre-poll alliance, we would have had a Deputy Chief Minister, 10 Ministers and at least 70 MLAs by now in Tamil Nadu. The alliance would have also helped the Congress to form a government in Puducherry. Now, we will work towards winning all 40 seats (39 in Tamil Nadu and 1 in Puducherry) in the 2029 Lok Sabha polls,” he said.

Mr. Viswanathan said the Congress in Puducherry could have faced a temporary setback in Assembly polls, but no one could dispute the fact that the party has a dominant presence in the entire Union Territory. “We will all work together in strengthening the party in Puducherry and Tamil Nadu,” he said.