DMK intensifies negotiations to form ‘third front’

The DMK is actively engaging in negotiations with regional parties, such as the Trinamool Congress, Shiv Sena, and NCP, in an effort to form a national front without the Congress, according to sources. This development emerged following the DMK's departure from the INDIA alliance due to the Congress's decision to support the TVK, which emerged victorious in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections in May.

Senior DMK leader Kanimozhi Karunanidhi has been holding private discussions with key figures from these parties, including NCP MP Supriya Sule, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, and Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, among others. These talks have sparked speculation about the DMK's intention to bring together like-minded parties under one umbrella.

The DMK's outreach also appears to be linked to the upcoming delimitation of constituencies and the caste enumeration census scheduled for 2027. The DMK did not participate in a recent INDIA bloc meeting and Kanimozhi even requested separate seating arrangements for her party members following their split from Congress. Meanwhile, the MDMK, led by prominent figure Vaiko, has joined the TVK-led alliance, while MDMK MP Durai Vaiko has accused the DMK of attempting to undermine the INDIA bloc and Congress, as well as hinting at discussions on supporting the BJP in future constituency delimitation.