CHENNAI: With the Tamil Nadu Assembly election campaign entering its final stretch, the continued delay in Congress leader Rahul Gandhi announcing his tour dates has become a growing source of concern for the party’s state unit and its alliance partner, the DMK.
Despite securing 28 seats after intense negotiations, Congress is yet to see its top leadership take the field in Tamil Nadu.
At a time when rival parties have ramped up aggressive, high-decibel campaigning, the absence of Rahul Gandhi has left many candidates feeling disadvantaged in key constituencies.
Within the TNCC, there is increasing pressure from grassroots workers and leaders for the participation of Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who are viewed as the party’s strongest crowd-pullers. Their presence, leaders believe, could significantly energise cadre and improve the party’s visibility in the closing phase of the campaign.