Ahead of key meeting, INDIA bloc in tatters? CPI-M joins DMK in slamming Congress for attacking allies

Ahead of the key June 8 meeting of the INDIA bloc, the Opposition’s alliance appeared to be in tatters as, after the DMK, the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) also publicly criticised the Congress party and its leader Rahul Gandhi for targeting allies.

CPI-M leader Hannan Mollah accused the Congress of not taking everyone along in the alliance.

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“Any biggest party in a coalition has a key role in holding the front together. But unfortunately, Congress leaders are not showing the required maturity,” he said, according to IANS.

He also criticised Rahul Gandhi for targeting the DMK and CPI-M. “If you want to lead, you have to carry everyone along. If you abuse your partners, who will remain with you? Rahul Gandhi criticises CPI-M in one place and DMK in another.”

Mollah further added that as a leader of the front, Rahul was expected to behave in a way that doesn’t damage the unity of the alliance.

“If you want to keep these parties together and lead the alliance, you have to represent everyone. Other leaders may say different things, but as the leader of the front, you cannot behave in a way that damages unity,” he noted.

During the recent Kerala Assembly elections, Rahul Gandhi had targeted the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Left government, drawing a sharp rebuke from the then Kerala CM.

In Tamil Nadu, the Congress is also facing the ire of its long-time ally DMK of MK Stalin for joining the Vijay-led TVK government.

DMK spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai said that his party has decided to boycott the INDIA bloc meeting because “we do not want to be in a place where the Congress is present”.

“The Congress are backstabbers. They stole our work and the sweat and toil of the workers of the DMK party and then switched camps. It is opportunism at its best. It would be an insult to all the DMK cadres if the party participates in, or is seen at, a place where the Congress is a part,” he said.

However, he mentioned that DMK has made it very clear that it will listen to the voices of other parties. “We listen to their views on how to go forward and ensure that the common man in the country does not suffer,” Annadurai added.

With agency inputs.