The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Thursday announced that it will not participate in the INDIA alliance meeting scheduled to be held in New Delhi on June 8, citing concerns over what it described as a “betrayal” by the Congress party following the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections.
“In view of the sentiments of DMK cadres, who continue to feel deeply hurt by what they consider the betrayal committed by the Congress party against the DMK following the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections, and in respect of those sentiments, the DMK will not participate in the INDIA alliance meeting to be held in New Delhi on June 8, particularly as it is a meeting in which the Congress party will be taking part. While the DMK will not attend this meeting, it will continue, as always, to raise its voice on issues affecting the welfare of the nation that may be brought forward by the other parties participating in the meeting,” the party said.
DMK leader TKS Elangovan told PTI, "Our cadres are not happy with Congress going with the TVK."
The fallout comes after Congress backed TVK during Tamil Nadu assembly elections, triggering sharp reactions from DMK, accusing the party of "betrayal" and "backstabbing."
{{/usCountry}}The fallout comes after Congress backed TVK during Tamil Nadu assembly elections, triggering sharp reactions from DMK, accusing the party of "betrayal" and "backstabbing."
{{/usCountry}}In the assembly elections, TVK fell short of the 118-seat majority but staked a claim to form the government with outside support. The Congress extended its support to Vijay’s party, breaking from its long-standing ally, the DMK.
DMK Youth Wing chief Udhayanidhi Stalin accused the Congress of “stabbing the DMK in the back” after benefiting electorally from the alliance, and asserted that the Congress should “never” be trusted again.
“For over 20 years, the Congress party rode on our backs. Today, they have stabbed us in the back. No one should ever forget this. We must never trust the Congress at any point in the future, nor should we ever let them come near us again,” Udhayanidhi said while addressing a DMK Youth Wing meeting on Saturday.
INDIA bloc to meet on June 8
Top leaders of the INDIA bloc are likely to meet at Constitution Club in New Delhi on June 8 to discuss their joint strategy against the BJP-led government and strengthen opposition unity.
The meeting is expected to bring together around 15 opposition parties. Leaders expected to attend include Mamata Banerjee, Uddhav Thackeray, Akhilesh Yadav, Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, sources said. Efforts are on to bring on board TVK led by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Jospeh Vijay.
Joining the DMK, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is unlikely to attend, having already distanced itself from the INDIA bloc.
According to the sources, the gathering is being seen as an effort to deepen coordination among opposition parties, particularly after the recent round of assembly elections and amid evolving political equations in several states.