Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the Indian National Congress party of betraying its long-term political alliance with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Sunday [1].
The remarks highlight a strategic attempt by Modi to capitalize on regional fractures within the opposition, specifically targeting the stability of alliances in Tamil Nadu.
Speaking at a rally in Karnataka, Modi focused on the collapse of the partnership between the Congress party and the DMK [1, 2]. He said that the Congress party had abandoned the DMK after the alliance ceased to serve its own political interests [2].
Modi used sharp language to describe the nature of the Congress party's political strategy. He said, “Backstabbing comes naturally” [1]. He said the party was a “backstabber, parasite,” and a “parasitic force” [2].
The Prime Minister specifically referenced the duration of the partnership, noting that the Congress party ditched the DMK after an alliance that had lasted for three decades [1]. He said the party opted for new opportunistic alliances instead of maintaining loyalty to its longtime partner.
According to Modi, the Congress party “stabbed the DMK in the back” [3]. The comments were delivered during his visit to Karnataka, though the subject of the critique remained centered on the political landscape of Tamil Nadu [1, 2].
““Backstabbing comes naturally””
By highlighting the breakdown of a 30-year alliance between the Congress and DMK, Modi is attempting to frame the opposition as unreliable and opportunistic. This rhetoric aims to erode trust in coalition politics among voters in both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, suggesting that the Congress party prioritizes short-term gains over stable regional partnerships.
