An upset DMK on Thursday declared that the “INDIA bloc is gone” after the Congress snapped ties with the MK Stalin-led party and backed actor-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) in its bid to form the government in Tamil Nadu.
The dramatic fallout came amid intense political uncertainty in the southern state after the Assembly poll results that threw up a fractured verdict, with no party crossing the majority mark. The TVK emerged as the single largest party with 108 of 234 seats and decided to ally with the Congress, which has five MLAs, significantly altering the state’s post-poll equations.
“INDIA bloc is gone,” senior DMK leader TKS Elangovan said, accusing the Congress of betraying a long-standing ally.
Asked whether the Left parties and the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) would remain with the DMK-led alliance, the DMK leader said they were free to decide their own political course.
“The CPI, CPI (M) and VCK said they will consider (their decisions) with their respective leaderships. Whatever decision they take, we will support them. We will not force them to do anything,” he said.
The Congress’s shift towards TVK marks one of the most dramatic realignments in Tamil Nadu politics in recent years and has cast serious doubts over the future of the INDIA bloc at the national level.
The Congress chose to support the TVK after the Assembly polls primarily to respect a strong public mandate for change and to ensure the formation of a secular government. By allying with Vijay‘s party, Congress aimed to prevent “communal forces” (a reference to the BJP or its proxies) from gaining power in the state.
This decision also offered Congress a historic opportunity to return to power-sharing in Tamil Nadu for the first time since 1967, seeking ministerial berths in exchange for its support to TVK.
DMK RESOLUTIONS CONDEMN CONGRESS’S MOVE TO ALLY WITH TVK
At a crucial meeting of DMK MLAs, the party passed four major resolutions, condemning Congress’s move to side with the TVK. It also authorised Stalin to take urgent political and administrative decisions depending on the evolving situation in the state.
The resolutions stated that the elections had produced “no clear majority for any one party” and unanimously empowered Stalin to respond to the fast-changing political developments.
The DMK accused the Congress of “betrayal” and “backstabbing,” saying the party had “not changed its old character.” “What the BJP did to other states, Congress did to DMK in Tamil Nadu,” one of the resolutions said.
The party alleged that the Congress high command neither restrained nor condemned leaders who publicly made statements against the DMK alliance during the Assembly poll campaign.
In the April 23 Assembly polls, the Congress won five seats, while the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), CPI, CPI(M) and VCK – all allies of the DMK – secured two seats each. If these parties decide to back Vijay’s TVK, the party would comfortably cross the halfway mark of 118 seats required to form the government in the 234-member Assembly.
GOVERNOR SAYS NO TO VIJAY AGAIN
Earlier today, Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Arlekar declined Vijay’s invitation to form the government for the second straight day. The actor-politician met the Governor at Lok Bhavan to stake claim, but was reportedly asked to return only after securing the support of 118 MLAs.
According to sources, the Governor told Vijay that TVK still lacked the numbers needed to prove majority support and asked him to come back with signatures of 118 legislators before any swearing-in process could begin. Governor Arlekar, however, assured Vijay that he will not invite any other party to stake claim.
Governor Arlekar still has time to take a final call as the tenure of the current Assembly ends on May 10. A day earlier too, Vijay had met the Governor with the support of 112 MLAs to stake claim to form the government.
Although TVK later secured the backing of the Congress, Vijay only orally informed the Governor about the support and sought more time to gather additional numbers, sources said.
TVK has now reached out to the Left parties, VCK and IUML, in an attempt to shore up support and end the political uncertainty in the state. While the Left parties are expected to announce their stand on Friday, the VCK and IUML are yet to take a final decision.
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