Kanimozhi Attends Lok Sabha Speaker's Tea Party Following Exit From INDIA Bloc

DMK parliamentary party leader Kanimozhi Karunanidhi attended the customary tea party hosted by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday following the sine die adjournment of the House, despite a boycott by several INDIA bloc constituents. During the gathering, she exchanged pleasantries with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior Union ministers.

The event took place amid speculation in Chennai regarding the M K Stalin-led party's relationship with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance. While major opposition constituents, including the Congress and the Samajwadi Party, chose to skip Thursday's gathering, the DMK maintained that its participation was strictly institutional.

"The INDIA bloc decided to boycott the event. We are no longer part of the bloc. Our MPs attended to thank the Speaker, as is customary," a senior DMK leader said. The leader dismissed suggestions that the party's presence pointed toward a political realignment, stating that the Congress camp was spreading canards about the DMK moving closer to the NDA.

Party sources indicated that the DMK leadership remains upset over remarks made by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during his recent visit to Chennai. Gandhi had reportedly described parties supporting the Union government's delimitation process as "21st century Ettappans," referring to a historical figure associated with betrayal.

Additionally, the DMK has been irritated by the TVK-Congress alliance's initiative to convene a meeting of MPs from various parties to deliberate on delimitation. Leaders within the DMK viewed the move as an attempt to put the party on the defensive over the contentious matter.

During Thursday's interaction, Kanimozhi also reminded Birla about the party's formal request to revise the seating arrangements for DMK MPs in the Lok Sabha. She had initially written to the Speaker in May requesting separate seating following the termination of the party's alliance with the Congress, citing changed political circumstances. A DMK MP stated that the Speaker is expected to reach a decision on the matter before the next session begins.