Congress MPs Manickam Tagore and Jothimani spar on social media over allegations of horse-trading by TVK

Manikkam Tagore; Jothimani | Photo credit: G. Moorthy; Facebook/Jothimani Sennimalai

A war of words broke out between Congress MPs B Manickam Tagore and Jothimani over DMK president MK Stalin’s criticism that the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) was indulging in horse-trading after three AIADMK MLAs resigned from their posts to join the ruling party on Monday (May 25, 2026).

Reacting to Mr Stalin, Mr Tagore, who represents the Virudhunagar Lok Sabha constituency, asked in a social media post on Monday why the DMK president was “shouting over the resignation of three AIADMK MLAs”. “They openly joined TVK after their resignation. It is a political decision that took place in front of the public,” he said.

Mr. Tagore also took a swipe at the DMK and alleged that the people of Tamil Nadu knew who was trying to play (politically) with those in power at the Center without respecting the mandate of the public. “They also know who stood up to save the rule of the people,” he noted.

Cannot Dual Stance: Jothimani

However, on Tuesday (May 26), MP Karur Jothimani said the Congress cannot take a double stand and support horse-trading in Tamil Nadu while opposing it outside the state.

“Horse-trading was a weapon used by the BJP to weaken democracy and the Congress in India. The BJP is using horse-trading in various states against the people’s mandate to prevent the Congress from forming the government or to prevent the Congress government from continuing in power,” she said.

“If the Congress acts as a force to weaken democracy, it would be a historic betrayal of the ideologies of (MK) Gandhi and (Jawaharlal) Nehru,” she said.

Ms Jothimani said the Congress would support TVK for good governance but her party could not support all its moves. “Such actions should strengthen democracy, not weaken it,” she said. The party, she said, should also not remain silent in such situations to express its opinion, saying that no party member could justify horse-trading.

Reacting to Ms Jothimani’s veiled remark, Mr Tagore launched a scathing attack on him on social media, claiming that the Karur MP had not spoken a word in the last three days when the DMK had maligned the Congress and its leader Mr Gandhi, calling the national party a “parasite and traitor”.

Responding to Mr. Tagore’s remarks, Ms. Jothimani wondered what these “sudden” opponents of the DMK were doing before the TVK was formed and when comments were made portraying Congress leader Kamaraj in a bad light.

The Karur MP recalled several incidents in the past where she had vociferously rebelled against the DMK when the situation warranted it, even when the Congress was in alliance with the Dravidian party.

Published – 26 May 2026 17:16 IST