Political Tensions Rise: DMK and Other Opposition Parties Challenge Congress's India Bloc Role

Posters attacking Rahul Gandhi appear in New Delhi, reflecting tensions within the INDIA bloc. DMK and its leader TKS Elangovan criticize Congress for alleged unreliability, citing shifting alliances. Despite discontent, Congress convenes an INDIA bloc meeting with 23 parties expected to attend, including Mamata Banerjee and Uddhav Thackeray.

Posters disparaging Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, emerged around New Delhi prior to the INDIA bloc meeting scheduled for Monday. The posters, which underline past critical remarks by opposition leaders against Gandhi, displayed quotes from notable figures such as Sharad Pawar, Mamata Banerjee, Udhayanidhi Stalin, and Arvind Kejriwal, underscoring ongoing tensions.

This development comes as visible fractures emerge within the INDIA bloc. Notably, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) announced its absence from the meeting after Congress ended their long-standing alliance, opting instead for a partnership with the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). DMK leader TKS Elangovan voiced his displeasure, predicting more parties might exit the alliance over Congress's perceived unreliability.

Elangovan criticized Congress's recent political maneuvers, describing them as an abandonment of allies who supported them in elections. He speculates other parties, like the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), may also skip the meeting. Meanwhile, senior Congress figure Jairam Ramesh assured that 23 parties will attend the meeting at Delhi’s Constitution Club, in a bid to present a unified opposition. ANI reports Mamata Banerjee and Uddhav Thackeray’s participation in the gathering.