DMK Boycotts INDIA Bloc Meeting, Deepening Rift With Congress

In a significant blow to opposition unity, the DMK on Thursday announced that it will not participate in the INDIA bloc meeting scheduled in New Delhi on June 8, citing its deepening differences with the Congress party .

The decision comes weeks after Congress severed its alliance with the DMK in Tamil Nadu and extended support to the TVK following the Assembly elections. In a statement, the DMK said it was staying away from the meeting in deference to the sentiments of party workers who felt betrayed by Congress' actions.

The party clarified that its boycott was specifically linked to Congress' participation in the gathering. However, it maintained that it would continue supporting non-Congress opposition parties on issues concerning national interest .

The political fallout between the two former allies has intensified in recent weeks. The DMK had earlier sought a separate seating arrangement for its MPs in the Lok Sabha, arguing that the alliance with Congress no longer existed. Senior DMK leaders have repeatedly accused Congress of "betrayal" and "backstabbing" for backing the TVK-led government.

Congress, meanwhile, defended its decision, noting that political realignments are not uncommon and pointing to occasions when the DMK had contested elections independently.

The latest development highlights the growing challenges facing the INDIA bloc as regional parties reassess political equations ahead of future electoral contests. While opposition parties remain united on several national issues, ideological differences, leadership rivalries, and shifting regional alliances continue to test the cohesion of the anti-BJP front.