• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay expanded his cabinet on Thursday, inducting two 23 MLAs into the council of ministers. The actor-turned-politician also included two Congress MLAs, a significant moment for the national party as it became part of the government in Tamil Nadu nearly after six decades. With the recent development, Congress is now in power in four of the five southern states- Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Telangana.

The Congress has largely struggled in the northern, eastern, and western regions in the recently conducted polls. However, the grand old party has significantly improved its tally in the southern states, giving it a much-needed boost. The party formed its government in Karnataka in 2023 under the leadership of Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar.

ALSO READ: Police Debunk Minor Dating Claims In Kim Soo Hyun, Kim Sae Ron Case, Seek YouTuber’s Arrest

The party, led by Revanth Reddy, registered a landslide victory in Telangana in the same year. However, its dominance recently increased after the party returned to power in Kerala after a decade. Apart from this, its MLAs were also included in the ministry in Tamil Nadu after Congress extended support to Vijay's TVK.

Factors Behind Congress' Rise

- Strong regional leaders: The party has several strong regional faces in these states, including Mallikarjun Kharge, DK Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah, Revanth Reddy, VD Satheesan, Ramesh Chennithala, G Parameshwara, KC Venugopal, YS Sharmila, and P Chidambaram.

- Organisation: Unlike the northern states, the party still has a strong cadre base in the southern states, especially in Kerala and Karnataka. A strong organisational structure helps the party during the campaign and governance.

ALSO READ: Tamil Anthem Row Returns At Cabinet Swearing-In; Will Sequence Continue Despite Objection? CPI-M Cites CM Vijay For Answer

- Regional identity: While the BJP has been accused of centralisation of power and imposing Hindi, the Congress has a flexible approach to language. Apart from this, the party has also opposed delimitation, sending a positive message among the voters of these states.

While the party has established its government in four states, it still has to find its lost ground in Andhra Pradesh.


Also In News