DMK skips INDIA meeting, blames Congress over TVK ties (Img: Dynamite News)
New Delhi: The DMK to stay away from the INDIA bloc meeting on SIR row, scheduled for September 30, maintaining that it was no longer part of the opposition alliance after Congress severed ties with the party and extended support to Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) following the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
Party spokesperson TKS Elangovan said several parties were hesitant about attending the meeting because of differences with Congress. However, he maintained that the parties remained "ideologically" united and shared the objective of opposing the Bharatiya Janata Party.
"Congress had chosen TVK in the state for the sake of two ministerial berths. So, we could not. They have said that they will continue with TVK. They are not in our alliance. How can we support them? How can we go to the meeting called by them," Elangovan said.
He argued that attending the meeting was largely a formality as opposition parties were already aligned on major political issues.
"Many of the parties there do not want to go with Congress, but ideologically, they are united. They share the same view and will oppose the BJP. Therefore, they do not need to attend an INDIA bloc meeting because every party knows the issues and is in line with the Congress. Attending the meeting alone is just a formality," he added.
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Tamil Nadu's main opposition party had also stayed away from the INDIA bloc meeting held in June. However, the party later joined other opposition parties in signing a letter to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant over the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and other election-related issues.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav is also expected to miss the September 30 meeting, with his party organising a state-level farmers’ conference in Lucknow. A senior SP leader will represent the party at the meeting.
Elangovan, however, blamed Congress for Yadav’s absence and repeated his criticism of the party’s decision regarding TVK.
"He (Akhilesh) is also skipping the meeting. That is because of Congress. They had chosen TVK in the state for the sake of two ministerial berths. So, we could not... They have said that they will continue with TVK. They are not in our alliance. How can we support them? How can we go to the meeting called by them."
Congress general secretary KC Venugopal had earlier said Yadav had a prior engagement related to Rajya Sabha election nominations.
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"Well, that Rajya Sabha election nomination is there. That's what he told the Congress president. Senior leaders from his party, all other seniors are coming. And we will decide what the next course of action is in the meeting," he said.
Venugopal also said the Congress’ next course of action would be discussed during the meeting.
The opposition alliance is expected to deliberate on the Election Commission’s SIR process amid reports of differences within the poll panel. The meeting may also consider a proposed removal motion against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, including efforts to secure signatures from opposition MPs.
