With the relationship between the DMK and the Congress deteriorating after the latter left the Dravidian major to join the TVK-led government in Tamil Nadu, both parties have been attacking each other verbally.
DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran, in a fitting reply to Rahul Gandhi, came down heavily on him, saying, “These are the people who traded our trust in them for mere ministerial berths” (Congress MLAs joining the TVK government after snapping ties with the DMK).
He termed the Congress a “poisonous snake” that sells trust “to buy” power, saying, “Vipers who sell out trust to secure power! Those who visit Tamil Nadu yet remain silent on Cauvery rights are traitors!”
நம்பிக்கையை விற்று, பதவியை வாங்கும் நச்சுப்பாம்புகள்!
தமிழ்நாட்டுக்கு வந்துவிட்டு #CauveryRights குறித்து பேசாமல் இருப்பவர்கள் துரோகிகள்!காவிரியில் தமிழ்நாட்டின் உரிமையைக் காவு வாங்கும் #MekedatuDam-க்கு எதிர்ப்புத் தெரிவிக்காதவர்கள் துரோகிகள்!#NEET தேர்வு முறையையே ரத்து…
— Dayanidhi Maran தயாநிதி மாறன் (@Dayanidhi_Maran) August 2, 2026
Maran’s remarks came after Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, during a training camp for newly appointed District Congress Committee Presidents under the SSA scheme in Mamallapuram on August 1, warned that any political party supporting the Centre’s (BJP) proposed delimitation Bill would be a “21st-century Ettappan”.
Rahul also criticised parties that, according to him, had betrayed Tamil Nadu on issues such as NEET and delimitation.
நாடளுமன்ற தொகுதிகளை திருத்தி அமைக்க பாஜக கொண்டு வர திட்டமிட்டு இருக்கும் சட்டத்தை ஆதரிக்கும் எவரும் தமிழ்நாட்டுக்கு மிகப்பெரிய துரோகத்தை செய்கிறார்கள். அவர்களை 21 ஆம் நூற்றாண்டு எட்டப்பர்கள் என்றே வரலாறு பதிவு செய்யும்
Any political party or person who is supporting the BJP in… pic.twitter.com/yX5NuGiZJi
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 1, 2026
The DMK felt the remarks were aimed at it, prompting Maran’s strongly worded rebuttal.
Dayanidhi Maran further said, “Those who come to Tamil Nadu and stay silent about Cauvery rights are traitors. Those who only talk about irregularities in the NEET examination rather than demanding its complete abolition are traitors. Those who condemn the BJP’s horse-trading but ignore the TVK’s similar disgusting activities are merely continuing that betrayal.”
Taking to his social media platform X, in a strongly worded rejoinder to Rahul Gandhi, the DMK MP said, “Those who do not press for cancelling the NEET examination system but only talk about irregularities in the examination are traitors. Those who fail to oppose the Mekedatu dam, which sacrifices Tamil Nadu’s legitimate rights over the Cauvery River, are traitors.”
Dayanidhi Maran said, “Failing to condemn the Tamil Nadu Police, who unleashed an atrocious crackdown on NEET protest students no less ruthlessly than the Delhi Police, is the absolute pinnacle of betrayal!”
“All these betrayals came to mind when I read about someone coming to Tamil Nadu and taking lessons to us. Oh my… so many betrayals!”
In the latest instance, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi allegedly made comments accusing the DMK of betrayal on several issues.
While attending a training camp for newly appointed District Congress Committee Presidents under the SSA scheme, held in Mamallapuram in Chengalpattu district on August 1, Rahul Gandhi warned that any political party supporting the Centre’s (BJP) delimitation Bill would be a “21st-century Ettappan”.
Rahul Gandhi equated such political parties with the 18th-century Tamil ruler ‘Ettappan’ Nayak, who is alleged to have aligned with the British in capturing Veerapandiya Kattabomman.
Rahul Gandhi said, “Any political party or person who is supporting the BJP in its quest to pass the delimitation Bill, a Constitutional Amendment Bill in Parliament, is betraying the people of Tamil Nadu and will be a ’21st-century Ettappan’.”
The DMK felt that Rahul Gandhi’s remarks were targeted at the party as he had chosen to make them during his visit to Tamil Nadu.
Former Assembly Speaker M. Appavu questioned whether Rahul had indirectly criticised the Chief Minister for leading what he described as a government functioning with “BJP-RSS ideology” despite receiving Congress support.
The DMK IT Wing, which retweeted Maran’s post, said, “What kind of curse is it that those who cannot raise their voice for the livelihood issues of their own state come to Tamil Nadu and talk politics? This is the time for the people to identify those who sacrifice the rights of Tamil Nadu for their own self-interest, and the traitors who wear a double mask without taking notice of the anarchies.”
It is alleged that the DMK, in all probability, would support the delimitation Bill likely to be moved by the NDA in the days to come. The BJP is yet to take a final call on this. The DMK’s direct or indirect support would help the NDA secure the required two-thirds majority to pass the legislation.
