AICC in-charge for Tamil Nadu, Girish Chodankar, admitted that the Congress party leadership's decision to stick with the DMK alliance went against strong grassroots sentiment favouring the TVK.
Chodankar stated that local leaders suggested that if Rahul Gandhi, who has a large acceptance in Tamil Nadu, joined the campaign with Vijay, it would create a big impact and the Congress could sweep the Tamil Nadu polls, getting around 180-190 seats.
However, due to the compulsion of the INDIA bloc and DMK being a long-time ally, the leadership decided to continue with DMK alliance, knowing that TVK would do a remarkably good job.
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Chodankar stated that a wave in favour of the new party had swept the state as youngsters and women voted decisively for a change, leading to a mandate that even saw the incumbent chief minister MK Stalin losing his seat.
Addressing the fallout of this decision, Chodankar admitted that many party workers were left angry, with some moving toward or even contesting for the TVK.
However, he dismissed claims that the decision was influenced by a few individuals for personal interest, asserting that the party took a concise decision after careful consideration.
On the prospect of post-poll alliances, he stated that he has updated Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on the present political situation.
Emphasising that the party would respect the people's mandate rather than trying to manipulate it, Chodankar said the AICC leadership would ultimately take a call that serves the best interests of Tamil Nadu's culture and ideology.
Vijay-led TVK secured an impressive 108 seats trouncing the incumbent DMK led by M K Stalin which finished with only 59 seats in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections held on April 23, as per the final tally of the ECI on Tuesday.
The Congress, one of DMK's allies, managed to win five seats.
Meanwhile, AICC secretary (incharge TN and Puducherry) Alva Nivedith said the Congress high command will decide the leadership of its legislature party in Tamil Nadu.
