DMK To Skip I.N.D.I.A. Bloc Meeting on June 8

 Hyderabad: The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has announced it will not attend the June 8 meeting of the Opposition I.N.D.I.A. bloc, signalling a rift within the alliance.

In a statement, the party said, “The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam will not participate in the "India" alliance meeting in Delhi on June 8th, where the Congress is taking part! At the same time on issues raised by other parties included in this meeting that harm the nation's welfare, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam will always raise its voice.-Party Headquarters Announcement.”

The DMK and the Congress had contested elections as allies. However, differences emerged after the Congress aligned with actor-turned-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, which currently governs Tamil Nadu. The DMK accused the Congress of “backstabbing” the mandate in the state.

Despite the decision to skip the meeting, sources indicated that the DMK continued to coordinate with other Opposition parties on national issues. There were also indications of outreach attempts by the National Democratic Alliance, though the DMK has not shifted camps.

Earlier, Akhilesh Yadav held meetings with Mamata Banerjee and M.K. Stalin in Kolkata and Chennai respectively, in an effort to maintain Opposition unity. Rahul Gandhi had also spoken to both leaders following recent electoral setbacks.

The fallout has extended to Parliament, with DMK MP Kanimozhi writing to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeking separate seating arrangements for DMK MPs, citing “changed political circumstances”.

Senior leaders of the I.N.D.I.A. bloc are scheduled to meet in New Delhi on June 8 to discuss strategy against the BJP-led NDA government and review coordination ahead of the monsoon session of Parliament. The meeting is expected to see participation from around 15 Opposition parties.