The Congress party is in a delicate position with the Tamil Nadu-Centre language controversy over the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. While the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu has raised its voice against the so-called “imposition” of Hindi under the three-language formula, Congress, an important constituent of the INDIA bloc, has kept silent for the most part, apparently mulling its political strategy.
How Did the Controversy Begin?
The DMK government’s resistance to not implementing NEP 2020 and staying intact with its two-language system of Tamil and English and not following The controversy was highlighted after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin accused the Central government of withholding Rs 2,152 crore of education funds under the Samagra Shiksha scheme.
Congress’ Position: A Delicate Balancing Act
While Congress leaders such as Virudhunagar MP Manickam Tagore and Karti Chidambaram have expressed opposition to the three-language formula, the central leadership of the party has remained studiously silent. This reluctance is because Congress needs to hold its electoral ground in Hindi-speaking states such as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Party sources indicate that taking a stand in favor of Tamil Nadu would give the BJP a chance to label Congress as “anti-Hindi,” which would drive away voters in these key states.
Political Consequences Before Budget Session
With Parliament’s Budget session set to begin on March 10, everyone is waiting to see if Congress will support DMK in raising the issue. While SP and RLD, both allies of INDIA bloc, have taken precautions, BJP allies have already started targeting Congress for its ambiguous alignment.
With internal debates in progress, Congress is likely to take a “balanced” stance—one that neither offends its Hindi heartland constituents nor antagonizes its southern allies. Whether this tactic pays off only time will tell, particularly with the BJP hoping to seize upon any miscalculation prior to the coming elections.
Edited By Saumya Sharan
