Former Congress leader Hazeena Syed has levelled serious allegations against AICC General Secretary K.C. Venugopal, accusing him of attempting to bypass the long-standing DMK-led alliance in favour of a covert partnership with actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).
Syed, who resigned as the Tamil Nadu Pradesh Mahila Congress president, claimed that Venugopal’s actions were aimed at shifting the party’s alignment ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections and banking on the Vijay supporters in Kerala to become the chief minister.
In Kerala, while K.C. Venugopal's name has gained considerable traction in high-command circles, the local leadership remains divided. Both V.D. Satheesan and Ramesh Chennithala are currently being positioned as frontrunners, setting the stage for a complex three-way leadership struggle for the state's top office.
The UDF is eyeing a return to power with a significant majority in Kerala. An internal assessment by the party expects that the alliance could win over 80 seats in the assembly elections.
Syed further alleged that Venugopal sabotaged the candidate list previously finalised during the Central Election Committee (CEC) meeting attended by Rahul Gandhi, signalling a deep internal rift that could destabilise the United Progressive Alliance's (UPA) stronghold in the state.
Syed added that there was an argument between Venugopal and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin when the Congress leader had arrived in Chennai.
Syed resigned from the primary membership of the Congress hours after she was sacked from the post.
Reportedly, tensions occurred after Syed was denied a ticket to contest from the Melur constituency for the Tamil Nadu assembly elections. She claimed that the party high command had initially approved her candidacy, but it was later sabotaged.
She recently had a public fallout with the National President of Mahila Congress, Alka Lamba, as well. Syed allegedly sent a viral email telling Lamba to "show her ego to her boyfriend K.C. Venugopal," a personal attack that the party cited as a primary reason for her expulsion.