Congress functionaries in Tamil Nadu have complained to a party-appointed fact-finding committee that a significant portion of election funds meant for campaigning was allegedly not spent and was instead withheld, hurting the party’s prospects.
The Congress, which contested 28 Assembly seats as part of the DMK-led alliance, won only five. Following the result, the party’s Delhi leadership formed a five-member committee to study the reasons for the setbacks.
The panel includes former MP Jayakumar and state-level office-bearers Sorna Sethuraman and S.M. Idhayathulla, among others. While the committee initially planned to gather feedback across all 234 constituencies, it was urged to focus on the 23 constituencies where the party lost.
According to information emerging from the inquiry, the committee has completed hearings in six constituencies including Velachery, Sholingur, Krishnagiri, Uthangarai and Pennagaram. Party members reportedly alleged that candidates did not involve district leaders and local functionaries in campaign work, and instead coordinated more with DMK and VCK functionaries.
The committee is expected to complete inquiries in the remaining 17 constituencies and submit a report to the party high command in Delhi on the reasons behind the defeats.
