Vijay's TVK not invited to today's INDIA bloc meet, Congress explains why
According to sources, there is still no clarity on whether TVK will attend the meeting at Delhi's Constitution Club, and a decision on inviting actor-turned-politician Vijay's party is likely to be taken later today. However, the Congress, TVK's ally in Tamil Nadu, said that parties without MPs are not invited to attend the meeting.
TVK, the newest party on the political block, which stormed to power in Tamil Nadu and is allied with the Congress in the state, has not yet received an invitation to attend the INDIA bloc meeting today, sources told India Today. According to sources, there is still no clarity on whether TVK will attend the meeting at Delhi's Constitution Club, and a decision on inviting actor-turned-politician Vijay's party is likely to be taken later today.
However, the Congress, TVK's ally in Tamil Nadu, said that parties without MPs are not invited to attend the meeting.
The opposition INDIA bloc is set to hold a crucial meeting in New Delhi on Monday, with representatives of 23 political parties expected to participate in an effort to recalibrate strategy, project unity and address internal differences following recent assembly election setbacks.
At present, TVK does not have any MPs and offered its lone vacant Rajya Sabha seat to its ally, the Congress, in Tamil Nadu in a bid to cement their coalition following the Assembly election results.
Top opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge of the Congress, Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav will be attending the meeting at the Constitution Club.
On the other hand, the Uddhav Sena will not attend the INDIA bloc meeting in Delhi in person, though Uddhav Thackeray, Aaditya Thackeray and Sanjay Raut are likely to participate via video conferencing. From the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), Supriya Sule will attend the meeting in Delhi. However, the Congress's pre-poll ally in Tamil Nadu, the DMK, has decided to skip the meeting.
The DMK's refusal to attend the all-important Opposition bloc meeting stems from its electoral debacle in Tamil Nadu, after which the party walked out of the INDIA bloc when its ally, the Congress, joined hands with Vijay's TVK to form a coalition government in the state. Accusing its former ally of "betrayal" and "backstabbing", the DMK vowed not to participate in any future INDIA bloc meetings.
Meanwhile, a war of words broke out between the TVK and the BJP over the DMK's decision to skip the meeting, with Vijay's party accusing Chief Minister Stalin of colluding with the RSS. The BJP dismissed the allegations, calling them an "audacious" claim.
Speaking to reporters, VMS Mustafa, TVK MLA from Madurai Central, questioned the DMK's absence from the INDIA bloc meeting. "What is this drama by the DMK? What talks were held with the RSS, and what positions did you seek in a BJP-led Cabinet? The DMK now stands exposed as the RSS's puppet," he said.
BJP leader Vinoj P Selvam said that the TVK itself was at the mercy of the DMK. "All the INDIA bloc leaders are trying to do is fool the people of the country. The alliance is shattered, the TMC is moving towards a major split, and the DMK is in shambles in Tamil Nadu. The Congress has been reduced to a regional entity. As far as the TVK is concerned, it is at the mercy of the DMK, which is why people call it DMK 2.0," he said.
Going a step further, Selvam questioned how the INDIA bloc continued to point fingers at the BJP despite suffering repeated setbacks. "Today, you have the audacity to point fingers at other parties," he said.
TVK, the newest party on the political block, which stormed to power in Tamil Nadu and is allied with the Congress in the state, has not yet received an invitation to attend the INDIA bloc meeting today, sources told India Today. According to sources, there is still no clarity on whether TVK will attend the meeting at Delhi's Constitution Club, and a decision on inviting actor-turned-politician Vijay's party is likely to be taken later today.
However, the Congress, TVK's ally in Tamil Nadu, said that parties without MPs are not invited to attend the meeting.
The opposition INDIA bloc is set to hold a crucial meeting in New Delhi on Monday, with representatives of 23 political parties expected to participate in an effort to recalibrate strategy, project unity and address internal differences following recent assembly election setbacks.
At present, TVK does not have any MPs and offered its lone vacant Rajya Sabha seat to its ally, the Congress, in Tamil Nadu in a bid to cement their coalition following the Assembly election results.
Top opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge of the Congress, Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav will be attending the meeting at the Constitution Club.
On the other hand, the Uddhav Sena will not attend the INDIA bloc meeting in Delhi in person, though Uddhav Thackeray, Aaditya Thackeray and Sanjay Raut are likely to participate via video conferencing. From the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), Supriya Sule will attend the meeting in Delhi. However, the Congress's pre-poll ally in Tamil Nadu, the DMK, has decided to skip the meeting.
The DMK's refusal to attend the all-important Opposition bloc meeting stems from its electoral debacle in Tamil Nadu, after which the party walked out of the INDIA bloc when its ally, the Congress, joined hands with Vijay's TVK to form a coalition government in the state. Accusing its former ally of "betrayal" and "backstabbing", the DMK vowed not to participate in any future INDIA bloc meetings.
Meanwhile, a war of words broke out between the TVK and the BJP over the DMK's decision to skip the meeting, with Vijay's party accusing Chief Minister Stalin of colluding with the RSS. The BJP dismissed the allegations, calling them an "audacious" claim.
Speaking to reporters, VMS Mustafa, TVK MLA from Madurai Central, questioned the DMK's absence from the INDIA bloc meeting. "What is this drama by the DMK? What talks were held with the RSS, and what positions did you seek in a BJP-led Cabinet? The DMK now stands exposed as the RSS's puppet," he said.
BJP leader Vinoj P Selvam said that the TVK itself was at the mercy of the DMK. "All the INDIA bloc leaders are trying to do is fool the people of the country. The alliance is shattered, the TMC is moving towards a major split, and the DMK is in shambles in Tamil Nadu. The Congress has been reduced to a regional entity. As far as the TVK is concerned, it is at the mercy of the DMK, which is why people call it DMK 2.0," he said.
Going a step further, Selvam questioned how the INDIA bloc continued to point fingers at the BJP despite suffering repeated setbacks. "Today, you have the audacity to point fingers at other parties," he said.
