DMK to boycott June 8 INDIA bloc meeting over Congress ‘betrayal’

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DMK noted that the decision of boycotting INDIA bloc meeting was taken to honour the sentiments of its cadres. File | Photo Credit: The Hindu

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Thursday (June 4, 2026) announced it will boycott the upcoming meeting of the INDIA bloc parties, scheduled to be held at the Constitution Club in New Delhi on June 8, 2026.

In a strongly-worded statement, the DMK noted that the decision was taken to honour the sentiments of its cadres, who remain deeply hurt by the “betrayal” committed by the Congress following the recent Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

The Congress, which had won five seats as part of the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, had post-polls unilaterally snapped ties with the Dravidian party and joined the TVK-led coalition government.

The DMK statement explained how the party had consistently been at the forefront of nationwide issues. It said the DMK had “courageously opposed” initiatives and policies that threaten democracy, secularism, and State rights — including the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), delimitation, the “hastily introduced” Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise during elections, ‘One Nation, One Election’, the Waqf Amendment Bill, and the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) amendments.

“Since the inception of the INDIA bloc, the DMK has functioned as its central force. DMK president M.K. Stalin has consistently been the primary voice raising critical issues concerning the people of this country,” the statement read.

The party attributed its decision to stay away from the upcoming INDIA bloc high-level meeting entirely to the Congress. “To respect the feelings of our party cadres, who are deeply hurt due to the betrayal by the Congress party after the Assembly elections, the DMK will not participate in the INDIA meeting on June 8, which features the Congress,” the statement clarified.

The DMK, however, maintained it remains committed to broader Opposition solidarity on national issues.