DMK to skip INDIA bloc meet over Congress’ ‘betrayal’ after polls

THe Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) said on th that it testament bound off the June 8 get together of the native american National Developmental Inclusive Alliance, citing the sentiment of cadre and supporters after the “betrayal” of the Congress, which walked out of a two-decade-old coalition last month to back actor-turned-politician Vijay’s government in Tamil Nadu.This is the first meeting of the grouping that the DMK has skipped since its inception in July 2023.“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,” the party said in the statement.“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...” it added.Noting that the Dravidian party was functioning as a ‘central force’ ever since the INDIA bloc was formed, the statement said DMK chief MK Stalin was the primary voice on key national issues. “This is well-known to the parties and leaders belonging to the INDIA alliance. The DMK courageously stood up and opposed everything that goes against democracy, secularism, rights of the State, including the NEET exam, delimitation, actions of the Election Commission, ‘One Nation, One Election’. DMK has been actively raising these issues democratically arguing and fighting for them in the Parliament, in the legislative assembly while in power, in the courts of law and at appropriate times,” it added.The DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance -- comprising of the DMK, Congress, Left parties, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), and the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) -- contested the April 23 assembly polls in Tamil Nadu.But the Congress abandoned the DMK shortly after results showed that Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam had raced to become the single-largest party with 108 seats, leaving the DMK at 59 assembly segments as a distant second. On May 5, soon after the results for the April 23 Assembly polls were declared, the Congress announced that its five lawmakers will back the TVK-led government, triggering a sharp response from the DMK.Stalin had criticised the Congress for ‘severing its relationship’ with his party in a ‘single day’ and thanked the Left parties and the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) for remaining part of the DMK led Secular Progressive Alliance, despite their decision to support the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam in forming the next state government.Stalin had said, “The legislators of Congress who contested and won on behalf of the alliance did not come to Anna Arivalayam (the DMK’s headquarters) to express their gratitude. In a single day, the Congress party left, severing its relationship with the DMK.”On May 21, 2026, Congress lawmakers S Rajesh Kumar (Killiyoor, Kanniyakumari) and P Viswanathan (Melur, Madurai) took oath as cabinet ministers on May 21, 2026 after a gap of 59 years in the State Assembly.Meanwhile as rift between the Congress and DMK widened, DMK on May 8, wrote to Speaker Om Birla to change seating arrangement for party MPs in Lok Sabha after changed political circumstances.As DMK alliance with Congress has come to end, it will not be appropriate for our MPs to sit alongside them in Lok Sabha, Kanimozhi had told Speaker.Despite repeated calls and messages from HT, senior Congress leaders declined to share their comments on the DMK’s decision to skip the meeting.