DMK announces exit from INDIA bloc, hints at new anti-BJP alliance

The DMK on Monday (June 8) declared that it is no longer associated with the opposition INDIA alliance, while indicating that a new coalition united against the BJP could emerge at a later stage.

DMK blames Congress

DMK spokesperson T K S Elangovan confirmed that the party had exited the opposition grouping, attributing the development to the Congress’ actions.

The move signals a notable realignment in national politics, with the Dravidian party distancing itself from the Congress-led opposition framework.

Also Read: INDIA bloc fault lines widen as DMK boycotts June 8 meet over Congress' TN 'betrayal'

Addressing reporters, Elangovan argued that multiple parties had already stepped away from the alliance, prompting the DMK to follow a similar course.

"Three of our allies (Congress, IUML, VCK) are now part of the TVK government. It means that they are no longer in the INDIA bloc. The AAP has already left and we are not in that alliance now," Elangovan said.

DMK to chart independent course

He stressed that the DMK remains guided by its own political principles. While the party may share a common objective with other groups in opposing the BJP, it would function independently going forward.

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According to Elangovan, future decisions would be taken based on deliberations within the party's state-level committees rather than through any collective alliance mechanism.

At the same time, he suggested that a broader opposition front could still take shape. Claiming that a "strong, secular, and anti-BJP alliance may form in the future", Elangovan said the DMK would closely watch the decisions of opposition parties in Delhi and assess whether there were areas of mutual interest where support could be extended.

Congress tie-up sparks boycott

Recently, the party had announced that it would boycott the meeting of INDIA bloc constituents in New Delhi on Monday as the actions of the Congress have "deeply affected the sentiments of the DMK members."

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Describing the grand old party severing ties with the DMK and joining the C Joseph Vijay-led TVK government in a post-poll alliance as "betrayal," the DMK said in a statement recently that it would respect the sentiments of its cadres and boycott today's meeting attended by the Congress.

Meanwhile, CPI state secretary M Veerapandian underscored the need to strengthen the alliance at the national level.

"We insist that the largest democratic party, DMK, should continue in the INDIA bloc. Some parties that were in the DMK alliance have left and joined the TVK government, whereas we are supporting from outside," he told reporters here.