The INDIA bloc meeting scheduled for 8 June in New Delhi is facing serious internal turbulence even before it convenes, with key alliance partners Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), and Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) either boycotting the gathering or openly venting frustration at the Indian National Congress (Congress) over what allies describe as high-handedness and unilateral decision-making.

DMK Announces Boycott

DMK, a critical Congress ally in Tamil Nadu, has formally announced it will skip the Congress-convened meeting. The party's grievance stems from Congress's decision to abandon the alliance after the Assembly election setback and align with the newly formed TVK-led government instead.

DMK spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai was unsparing in his criticism. '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. Annadurai did, however, clarify that the DMK remains open to hearing the views of other parties on the way forward.

JMM Furious Over Rajya Sabha Seat Row

In Jharkhand, two Rajya Sabha seats are up for election in the upcoming biennial polls. JMM had sought to field its own candidates for both seats, but Congress moved unilaterally to announce its own candidate for one of them — a decision JMM has condemned as a breach of alliance norms. Notably, the Congress-JMM combine reportedly holds the numbers to win both seats, making the unilateral move all the more contentious within the alliance.

CPI(M) Writes to Kharge Over Kerala Conduct

CPI(M) general secretary M A Baby has fired off a strongly worded letter to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, seeking clarification on claims by some Congress leaders that the Left party had an 'understanding' with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during the Kerala elections — an allegation the CPI(M) has flatly rejected.

CPI(M) leader Hannan Mollah went further, directly targeting Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi. '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 said. He added: 'The behaviour of Congress is damaging the alliance.'

Who Is Expected to Attend

Despite the fractures, approximately 15 Opposition parties are expected to participate in the 8 June meeting. Confirmed attendees reportedly include Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah of the National Conference (NC), All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee, and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee. Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) (NCP-SP) and Shiv Sena (UBT) are unlikely to be physically present and may join virtually.

What This Means for the Opposition Bloc

The deepening cracks arrive at a particularly sensitive moment — ahead of Rajya Sabha biennial elections where coordinated Opposition strategy matters. Critics argue that Congress, as the largest party in the alliance, has repeatedly failed to demonstrate the coalition-building temperament its partners expect. This is not the first instance of friction within the INDIA bloc; similar fault lines surfaced during seat-sharing negotiations ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Whether the 8 June meeting produces a unified roadmap — or merely exposes the alliance's structural fragility — remains to be seen.