Overview On December 29, 2025 , Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president K. Selvaperunthagai publicly denounced remarks made by Congress functionary Praveen Chakravarty regarding Tamil Nadu's debt levels. Selvaperunthagai labeled Chakravarty's statements as "unacceptable" and suggested they were intended to sow discord within the INDIA bloc . This incident highlights internal tensions within the Congress party and its potential ramifications for alliance strategies in Tamil Nadu. Key Developments Disagreement Over Tamil Nadu's Economic Status The controversy stemmed from Praveen Chakravarty's challenge to Kanimozhi's claim that the M.K. Stalin government had successfully transformed Tamil Nadu from a debt-ridden state into a developed one. Chakravarty, who leads the All India Professionals’ Congress and the Indian National Congress’s Data Analytics Department , asserted on December 28, 2025 , that Tamil Nadu possesses the highest outstanding debt among all states. TNCC's Response K. Selvaperunthagai addressed reporters at Satyamurthy Bhavan , the TNCC headquarters, stating that he had lodged a complaint with the All India Congress Committee (AICC) president concerning Chakravarty's remarks. He emphasized that Chakravarty's views do not reflect the official position of the TNCC. According to Selvaperunthagai, only statements made by himself, All India Congress Committee Tamil Nadu in-charge Girish Chodankar , Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge , and party leader Rahul Gandhi are considered official. Critique of Chakravarty's Statistics Selvaperunthagai dismissed the statistics presented by Chakravarty as "distorted" and defended the DMK government's management of the state's finances. He argued against comparing Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, emphasizing that a state's borrowing capacity is linked to its State GSDP growth. He also asserted that Congressmen would never support the BJP and RSS, implying that Chakravarty's actions were a misuse of Rahul Gandhi's name. Alliance Strategy Regarding the alliance strategy in Tamil Nadu, Selvaperunthagai clarified that the national leadership would make the final decision. He affirmed the strength of the INDIA bloc and indicated that seat-sharing talks are progressing and will conclude satisfactorily. He also stated, "We never attempt any back-door entry," suggesting a commitment to transparent alliance negotiations. Concerns About BJP's Entry into Tamil Nadu Selvaperunthagai expressed concern that some individuals are directly or indirectly aiding the BJP's efforts to gain a foothold in Tamil Nadu. He vowed to prevent this, regardless of whether such efforts originate from within or outside the Congress party. UPSC Relevance This news article is relevant to GS2 (Polity and Governance) and GS3 (Economy) . It provides insights into the internal dynamics of political parties, alliance strategies, and the economic challenges faced by states. The controversy surrounding Tamil Nadu's debt levels and the reactions of key political figures offer valuable material for understanding contemporary political issues. Important Facts The incident occurred in December 2025 . K. Selvaperunthagai is the president of the TNCC . Praveen Chakravarty heads the All India Professionals’ Congress and the Indian National Congress’s Data Analytics Department . The INDIA bloc is a coalition of opposition parties. The dispute centers on Tamil Nadu's debt levels and economic development.