Published Jun 04, 2026 | 7:01 PM ⚊ Updated Jun 04, 2026 | 7:01 PM
File photo of MK Stalin and Rahul Gandhi
Synopsis: In a statement issued on Thursday, 4 June, the DMK said it had been at the forefront in opposing issues that it considers against democracy, secularism, and state rights, including NEET, delimitation, the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls introduced ahead of elections, the Election Commission’s actions, One Nation One Election, the Waqf Act, and amendments to the FCRA law.
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has announced that it will not participate in the INDIA bloc meeting scheduled to be held at the Constitution Club in Delhi on 8 June citing what it described as the Congress party’s “betrayal” of the DMK after the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
In a statement issued on Thursday, 4 June, the DMK said it had been at the forefront in opposing issues that it considers against democracy, secularism, and state rights, including NEET, delimitation, the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls introduced ahead of elections, the Election Commission’s actions, One Nation One Election, the Waqf Act, and amendments to the FCRA law.
It further stated that it had consistently raised its voice against these issues in Parliament, and the Tamil Nadu Assembly when it was in power, public forums, and courts. The DMK added that since the formation of the INDIA bloc, it had functioned as one of the coalition’s central forces, and that party president MK Stalin had been among the first leaders to raise his voice on major national issues.
Noting that its cadre were deeply hurt, the DMK said that the leadership had decided to respect those sentiments by boycotting the June 8 INDIA bloc meeting in which Congress would participate.
At the same time, the DMK clarified that despite skipping the meeting, it would continue to support and raise its voice on issues concerning national interest and democratic values that are taken up by other parties in the alliance.
Also Read: Will INDIA bloc survive this challenging hour?
Following the hung verdict in Tamil Nadu Assembly polls, the DMK severed had ties with the Congress, its partner of 22 years, after the latter — which contested the polls as part of the DMK-led alliance — extended support to the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), which emerged as the single-largest party in the election.
C Joseph Vijay-led TVK has fallen 10 short of the majority of 118 seats in the 234-member Assembly, prompting the Congress, with five seats, to support him.
The DMK had also sought to sit as a separate block in the Lok Sabha.
In a letter, dated 7 May, to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, DMK’s parliamentary party leader and Thoothukudi MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi requested changes in the seating arrangements of DMK MPs in the Lower House.
“In view of the changed political circumstances and as our alliance with the Indian National Congress has come to an end, it may not be appropriate for our members to continue occupying the present seating arrangement alongside them in the House,” she said while requesting separate seating for DMK’s 22 MPs in the Lok Sabha.
(Edited by Sumavarsha, with inputs from Subash Chandra Bose)
