DMK says no need for it to join Congress-led protests after exit from INDIA bloc

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

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

Reacting to Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president Manickam Tagore’s claim that the DMK had 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 courage to open his mouth against Mr. Kumar, the BJP or the Prime Minister. Mr. Tagore is ‘licking the feet’ of such a non-courageous person and has no right to criticise the DMK,” the statement said.

Accusing the BJP of unleashing violence and using repressive measures against young people participating in protests demanding Mr. Kumar’s resignation in Delhi, the DMK said former Chief Ministers and MPs had also faced such measures. It pointed out the party president M.K. Stalin had strongly condemned the union government’s action against the protesters.

“Members of the Trinamool Congress, the SFI and the Cockroach Janta Party have thanked Mr. Stalin and shared his message. Mr. Tagore claims the DMK is afraid of the BJP. The 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 the “deafening silence” of Mr. Vijay and his government’s alleged suppression of protests in Tamil Nadu. “But Mr. Tagore has prostrated himself before the Panaiyur Pannaiyar,” the statement said.

Asserting that no one needed to teach the DMK how to oppose the BJP, the party said it had forged a strong alliance against the BJP in two Lok Sabha elections (2019 and 2024) and secured victories.

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