'Changed political circumstances': Kanimozhi writes to Lok Sabha speaker seeking separate seating for DMK MPs after break-up with Congress

NEW DELHI: DMK MP Kanimozhi has written a letter addressed to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to change the seating arrangements in the Parliament so that they don't have to sit near the Congress MPs, considering the recent rift after Tamil Nadu poll results."I write to respectfully request suitable changes in the seating arrangement of the MP belonging to the DMK in the Lok Sabha. 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 in a letter dated May 7, released on Friday. "I therefore request your good office to kindly make the necessary arrangements for the Hon'ble Members of the DMK Parliamentary Party to be allotted separate seating, enabling them to effectively discharge their responsibilities in the August House. I shall be grateful for your kind consideration in this regard," she further said in the letter.Senior DMK leader Kanimozhi Karunanidhi also reiterated the party’s long-standing opposition to the office of the governor amid the uncertainty over government formation in Tamil Nadu following the fractured mandate. Speaking to PTI Videos, she said the current situation had raised “a lot of questions” about constitutional procedures and maintained that the DMK’s position that “we do not need a governor at all” had never changed. She also dismissed speculation about the DMK extending outside support to the AIADMK, calling such reports “rumours”.This comes after Congress chose to cut 20-year old ties with DMK to give support to Vijay's party TVK to form government. This comes after Congress ended its two-decade alliance with the DMK and extended support to Vijay-led TVK in its bid to form the government in Tamil Nadu.The fallout intensified after the DMK, at a meeting chaired by party chief MK Stalin on Thursday, passed a strongly worded resolution accusing the Congress of betraying the Secular Progressive Alliance despite contesting the assembly elections alongside the DMK.The Congress, which won five seats, backed Vijay and his party TVK after it emerged as the single-largest party but fell short of a majority.