New Delhi, 19 June—A telling political story is hidden in former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK supremo M K Stalin’s birthday greetings to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi this year in comparison with that of the last year.
While this year Stalin chose to address Gandi as “Leader of the Opposition”, in 2025 the then Tamil Nadu Chief Minister had used “Brother in ideals” to kick off his birthday wishes.
In politics, one year indeed is a long time in politics and who knows it better than two leaders as much has changed in between though a flickering hope remains that Stalin remains steadfast on the path of secularism, federalism and constitutionalism. Biggest difference between the last year and this year is the defeat of the DMK in the recently held assembly elections.
When Stalin had wished Rahul Gandhi on his last birthday, he called him “my brother in ideals, bound not by blood, but by thought, vision, and purpose.” “May you continue to stand firm and lead with courage. In our march towards a brighter India, victory shall be ours”, Stalin oozed warmth and closeness.
Contrast it with Stalin’s birthday wish to Rahul Gandhi today and one finds that warmth and closeness missing: “Birthday greetings to Hon’ble Leader of Opposition Thiru. Rahul Gandhi. Wishing you good health and happiness.”
Selections of words between the two posts tells the story of Congress-DMK relations. While being friendly to formal, from personal to strictly professional, communication between the two reflects a desire to keep the channels of communication alive.
Rahul Gandhi, in his reply, seemed to be making an overture to the DMK and sending a reconciliatory message. Thanking Stalin for the wishes, he wrote: “Our shared resolve to defend the idea of India, our Constitution, and federalism will continue to guide us – this is the fight for the very soul of our democracy, and we will wage it together, until we win.”
The reply is seen as Rahul Gandhi’s olive branch to the estranged ally after Congress decided to go with the TVK after the Tamil Nadu elections.
Angry with the Congress’s move, the DMK has snapped ties with the party and has also distanced itself from the INDIA alliance. The party did not attend the INDIA bloc meet earlier this month and has also written to the Lok Sabha Speaker for a new seating arrangement in the House, as it doesn’t want to sit with Congress MPs anymore.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Congress’s new ally Joseph Vijay too wished Rahul Gandhi on his birthday, calling him his “brother” – remember Stalin’s 2025 wish.
“You, who continue to raise your voice for the progress of our great nation India, for safeguarding democratic values, and for the welfare of people from all sections of society, I wish you good health, a long life, success in all your endeavors, and the ability to serve with distinction in public life,” Vijay’s post read.
Replying to Vijay, Rahul Gandhi posted: “We remain united in our commitment to the Constitution and to strengthening our democracy – and together, we will keep working for the welfare, dignity, and aspirations of the people of Tamil Nadu.”
While Stalin’s and Vijay’s posts show the changed dynamic in their ties with the Congress, Rahul Gandhi’s replies also tell a story.
To Vijay, he promised to keep working for Tamil Nadu, while to Stalin his message is national – “shared resolve to defend the idea of India.”
It will be interesting to see if the DMK will warm up to Rahul Gandhi’s “unity” call at the national level, while the Congress continues to ally with the TVK in Tamil Nadu. The DMK has 22 MPs in the Lok Sabha and is a key bloc in the Opposition ranks. Congress and the INDIA bloc will find it hard to stop key BJP legislation without the DMK’s support, especially after the rebellions in the Trinamool and UBT Sena ranks.
Coming weeks will only reveal as how Stalin sees the BJP’s dirty game of splitting opposition parties and whether he chooses to take a long term view of falls for short term political gains in collusion with the Modi-Shah duo.
Veteran Journalist and Political Commentator
