INDIA Alliance Faces Internal Divisions in Tamil Nadu Over National-Level Unity

Differences within the INDIA alliance in Tamil Nadu are now coming out in the open. The state's leading party, the DMK, has categorically rejected a demand by its old ally, the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), to bring the DMK and Chief Minister Vijay's party, TVK, together at the national level against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The dispute began when VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan suggested that a model similar to Kerala and West Bengal could be adopted in Tamil Nadu. He said that parties could remain united against the BJP by being part of the INDIA alliance at the national level despite being political rivals at the state level. Thirumavalavan's suggestion was also supported by the Congress. The Congress said that opposition unity against the BJP was more important than political differences at the state level and that all opposition parties should come together in the national interest. However, the DMK rejected the proposal outright. Charging the party with serious electoral malpractices, Rajkumar P.