Published Sep 09, 2026 | 3:00 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 09, 2026 | 3:00 PM
P Shanmugam, CPI(M)'s Tamil Nadu state secretary. (Supplied)
Synopsis: The CPI and CPM are boycotting the TVK’s alliance consultation meeting, citing growing concerns over the functioning of the Vijay-led government. While both parties continue to support the TVK government from outside, Left leaders said they are not keen to be identified with a TVK-led electoral alliance.
The Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM) have decided to boycott the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam’s (TVK) alliance consultation meeting scheduled to be held at the party headquarters in Chennai at 4 pm on Wednesday, even as other parties, including the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), are expected to participate.
The meeting has been convened by TVK as part of consultations on forming an alliance under its leadership and evolving a common minimum programme to face the upcoming local body and parliamentary elections.
The decision of the two Communist parties to stay away comes amid growing differences over the functioning of the TVK government, although both parties have made it clear that they are not withdrawing their support to the government at this stage.
CPM state secretary P Shanmugam said the party received an invitation to the meeting and had initially said it would discuss the proposal internally before taking a decision.
He said the party subsequently decided not to participate since the meeting was aimed at forming a new alliance under the leadership of TVK.
“The meeting is being convened towards forming a new alliance. The CPM has therefore decided not to participate,” Shanmugam said.
He also criticised the functioning of the Tamil Nadu Assembly, alleging that the House was increasingly being turned into a “fighting forum”.
According to Shanmugam, both the ruling and Opposition parties had a responsibility to ensure that Assembly proceedings were used to discuss people’s issues, but the ruling party had a greater responsibility.
Referring to Tuesday’s debate on the demands for grants for the Police and Fire and Rescue Services departments, he alleged that Chief Minister Vijay had not properly responded to the questions raised by the Opposition.
“There are many places to speak. But questions raised in the Assembly should be answered by the government,” he said.
On the CPM’s support for the TVK government, Shanmugam said its continuation for the full five-year term would depend on the stand taken by TVK.
He also criticised TVK Minister Nirmal Kumar’s remarks concerning people arrested during the MISA (Maintenance of Internal Security Act) period and urged TVK ministers to study history before making such statements.
Shanmugam said thousands of people had been detained during the Emergency and subjected to severe treatment, and pointed out that the Ismail Commission report had already been tabled in the Assembly.
He said allegations of corruption or irregularities should be investigated and action taken against those responsible, irrespective of who they were.
The CPI has also decided not to attend Wednesday’s meeting. However, state secretary Veerapandian said the party would continue to support the TVK government from outside.
Speaking to reporters after a party meeting at Balan Illam in T Nagar, Veerapandian said the CPI had supported TVK in order to respect the people’s mandate and would continue to extend its support democratically.
He said the CPI had not joined any alliance at present and would take its political decisions depending on the circumstances.
“The principal enemy is the BJP. We will work to defeat it,” Veerapandian said.
He said the CPI had supported the formation of the TVK government as part of an effort to prevent an indirect BJP government from coming to power, and expected the Vijay-led government to provide good governance and fulfil its electoral promises.
Veerapandian also urged Vijay to remain committed to secularism and said the Chief Minister and his ministers had a greater responsibility to respond to questions raised by the Opposition in the Assembly.
“Being Chief Minister is a big responsibility. The ruling party cannot function like an Opposition party,” he said.
Left leaders told South First that the decision to boycott the meeting also reflects growing dissatisfaction within both Communist parties over the functioning of the TVK government.
According to these leaders, there has been increasing reluctance within the two parties to be seen as part of a TVK-led electoral alliance, with recent developments further deepening their concerns.
They pointed to the controversy in Gujiliamparai, where the local Tahsildar was reported to have directed officials to collect details of Communist Party members in the region. South First also reported on the controversy, which subsequently became a political issue. The Tahsildar was later transferred.
Sources also referred to a recent communication from the Education Department to colleges concerning political and student activities on campuses. They said the move had added to concerns within the Left parties over what they perceived as attempts to curb Left-oriented student movements.
These developments, along with their concerns over the functioning of the government and recent Assembly proceedings, had contributed to the decision to stay away from the TVK alliance meeting, leaders in the know said.
The boycott, they said, was therefore not simply a disagreement over the proposed electoral alliance, but also reflected the Communist parties’ reluctance to be politically identified with the functioning and direction of the TVK government.
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(Edited by R Rajesh Kumar.)
