Published Jun 11, 2026 | 12:18 PM ⚊ Updated Jun 11, 2026 | 12:18 PM
The Communist Party of India (CPI) has decided that its ministers will abstain from attending the Cabinet meeting scheduled for 29 October. (Supplied)
The Communist Party of India (CPI) has announced its decision to exit the DMK-led alliance in Tamil Nadu, with State Secretary M Veerapandian declaring on Thursday, 11 June, that the party is no longer part of the coalition.
Addressing reporters in Coimbatore, Veerapandian said the CPI could no longer continue in the DMK alliance under the present circumstances. The decision, he added, was taken after two days of consultations and discussions within the party.
The announcement marks a critical shift in the position of the Left parties, both of which had earlier stated that while they were extending outside support to the TVK government, they would continue to work with the DMK on issues concerning Tamil Nadu’s welfare and rights.
However, both CPI and CPI(M) have now made it clear that they no longer consider themselves part of the DMK alliance.
Speaking to reporters in Pudukkottai on 8 June, CPI(M) State Secretary P Shanmugam had said that the Secular Progressive Alliance no longer existed in its earlier form.
“At present, there is no Secular Progressive Alliance. At the same time, we will continue to join hands with the DMK on issues related to the rights of Tamil Nadu,” he had said.
With the CPI now formally announcing its exit, both major Left parties have effectively distanced themselves from the DMK-led alliance.
When asked about the reasons behind the move, CPI(M) State Secretary Shanmugam rejected suggestions that it was not a sudden decision.
“This is not a sudden development. After we extended support to TVK on 8 May, we never stated anywhere that we would continue in the DMK alliance. Our party discussed the changing political situation and arrived at this decision accordingly,” he said.
On the question of DMK alliance, Shanmugam argued that it was inaccurate to speak of the coalition as though it still existed in its previous form.
“The parties that were once part of that alliance have now moved out and are supporting TVK. In such a situation, it is not appropriate to continue referring to it as the same alliance,” he said.
Several CPI members familiar with the developments described the decision as part of a routine post-election political assessment.
“After every election, parties evaluate the prevailing political situation and make decisions accordingly. Based on such discussions within our organisational bodies, this decision has been taken in view of the current political situation in Tamil Nadu,” party functionaries said.
Since 2019, both CPI and CPI(M) have been part of the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance in Tamil Nadu.
The differences over alliance positions had surfaced earlier as well.
On 5 June, Praveen Chakravarthy, who was announced as the TVK-Congress alliance candidate for the Rajya Sabha election, described the grouping as the “Tamil Nadu Social Justice Progressive Alliance” in a post on X.
He listed the alliance as comprising TVK, Congress, the two Left parties, and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML).
The post, however, drew immediate objections from both the CPI and CPI(M).
Shanmugam sharply criticised the description, calling it “overenthusiasm” and asserting that the party had not joined any such alliance. The CPI too clarified that it was not part of any formal alliance at the time.
With both parties now explicitly stating that they are no longer part of the DMK-led alliance either, the Left parties have sought to underline their independent political position amid the changing political landscape in Tamil Nadu.
