DMK says there is no need for it to join the Congress-led protests after INDIA’s exit from the bloc

A view of Anna Arivalayam, DMK headquarters in Anna Salai. | Photo credit: B. Velankanni Raj

The DMK on Monday (October 12, 2026) said it had no reason to participate in protests organized by the Congress after the Congress “betrayed” it for power and forced the DMK to leave the INDIA bloc.

“We left the INDIA bloc after Congress betrayed DMK for power. There is no need for us to participate in Congress protests and the party cannot force us to join them,” the DMK headquarters said on Monday (October 12).

Reacting to Tamil Nadu Congress Committee President Manickam Tagore’s claim that the DMK stayed away from protests demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar out of fear of the BJP, the DMK said he should question Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s absence from the agitation if he (Mr. Tagore) had any self-respect or sensitivity.

“Mr. Vijay does not have the guts to open his mouth against Mr. Kumar, the BJP or the Prime Minister. Mr. Tagore is ‘licking the feet’ of such an intrepid person and has no right to criticize the DMK,” the statement said.

The DMK has accused the BJP of unleashing violence and using repressive measures against youths who took part in protests demanding Mr Kumar’s resignation in Delhi, saying former chief ministers and MPs have also faced such measures. She pointed out that party chairman MK Stalin strongly condemned the action of the union government against the protesters.

“Members of Trinamool Congress, SFI and Cockroach Janta Party thanked Mr. Stalin and shared his message. Mr. Tagore says that DMK is afraid of BJP. DMK is not afraid of anyone. Our leader wore a black shirt and burnt a copy of the delimitation proposal during the election campaign,” the statement said.

The DMK said Mr Tagore should question Mr Vijay’s “deafening silence” and his government’s alleged suppression of protests in Tamil Nadu. “But Mr. Tagore bowed before Panaiyur Pannaiyar,” the statement said.

Claiming that no one needed to teach DMK how to take on the BJP, the party said it had formed a strong alliance against the BJP in two Lok Sabha elections (2019 and 2024) and secured victory.

“Mr Tagore, who leads life like a leech, should not talk about DMK in exchange for a few biscuits from the ruling TVK. If he continues to criticize DMK, he will face the consequences,” the party warned.

Published – 12 October 2026 21:59 IST