INDIA allies question Congress over betraying DMK, criticising CPM

CHENNAI/NEW DELHI: INDIA bloc allies, VCK and the Left parties, on Monday criticised Congress over its alliance strategy in the recent assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and West Bengal. DMK sources told TOI the party would join the INDIA bloc only if Congress is not part of it. “We will not be a signatory of the letter to CJI on SIR,” a senior DMK politician said.

Sources in New Delhi said the manner in which Congress severed its ties with DMK came up at Monday’s INDIA bloc meeting. “... Left parties also raised objections over Congress attacking CPM in Kerala, where the Left was accused of having a deal with BJP by politicians, including Rahul Gandhi,” sources said.



The Left — CPM’s John Brittas and CPI’s Sandosh Kumar and D Raja — slammed Rahul Gandhi for alleging in Kerala elections that the Left was the “B team” of the BJP. CPM and CPI also slammed Congress for DMK’s decision to quit the alliance, accusing it of instigating the Dravidian party by abruptly crossing over to TVK after the Tamil Nadu elections.

At the meeting, VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan said Congress had caused dissatisfaction among several constituents. He said Congress’s strategy in Kerala, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu weakened parties that have been key pillars of the alliance, including DMK, TMC and CPM. “This is neither desirable nor beneficial to the larger cause of opposition unity,” he said.

(With inputs from Ambika Pandit and Subodh Ghildiyal)

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