We are no longer part of INDIA bloc: DMK

CHENNAI: DMK is no longer part of INDIA bloc, party spokesperson TKS Elangovan said on Thursday. He made the statement to ANI, hours after DMK headquarters issued a press statement saying the party would not participate in the alliance meeting to be held in Delhi on June 8.

The decision came after Congress, a long-time DMK ally, severed its ties with the Dravidian party to join the TVK-led govt in Tamil Nadu. "DMK cadres were upset at Congress betraying the party after the assembly election. To give respect to their sentiments, DMK will not participate in the INDIA bloc meeting. In short, DMK will not participate in the meeting in which Congress participates," it said in a statement.



DMK functionaries said its MPs would, however, support other parties in the alliance when they raised issues affecting the common good. Earlier, there were rumours that DMK might not be invited for the meeting in Delhi since it was unsure whether it was still in the bloc. The party had got an invitation.

Meanwhile, PTI reported that Lok Sabha secretariat had approved DMK MPs being seated away from Congress members. The move came after DMK's Kanimozhi Karunanidhi wrote to Speaker Om Birla requesting a change in the seating arrangement in view of the changed political circumstances. DMK MPs are yet to be assigned new seats.

Congress, which contested 28 seats as part of the DMK-led alliance and won five, supported the C Joseph Vijay-led govt in return for two ministerial berths. DMK functionaries called this action "backstabbing" and "betrayal". The alliance lost the polls and TVK, with 108 seats, garnered support from Congress, VCK, IUML, CPI and CPM to win the confidence vote. VCK and IUML, too, have joined govt, with one minister each.