TVK left out of INDIA bloc meeting, Congress says invitations limited to parties with MPs

amilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), led by actor-turned-politician and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay, has not yet received an invitation to the INDIA bloc meeting being held in New Delhi, with the Congress maintaining that participation is currently restricted to parties that have Members of Parliament in either House.

The clarification comes amid speculation over whether TVK, which emerged as a major political force in Tamil Nadu following the 2026 Assembly elections, would be included in the opposition alliance's deliberations.

According to Congress leaders, the INDIA bloc meeting has traditionally involved parties with parliamentary representation. Since TVK does not currently have MPs in Parliament, no invitation has been extended so far.

The issue has gained significance because of the changing political equations in Tamil Nadu. Earlier this year, Congress ended its long-standing alliance with the DMK and extended support to Vijay's TVK, helping the party consolidate its position in the state. The Congress-TVK partnership has since been projected as a long-term political arrangement.

The Congress's decision to back TVK triggered a major fallout within the opposition alliance. The DMK subsequently announced that it was no longer part of the INDIA bloc and declared that it would not attend the June 8 meeting in Delhi. Party leaders accused Congress of betraying a long-standing alliance in Tamil Nadu by shifting support to TVK.

Despite not receiving an invitation to the INDIA bloc meeting, relations between Congress and TVK appear to remain strong. Last week, the Vijay-led alliance allotted a Rajya Sabha seat to the Congress, a move widely seen as reinforcing cooperation between the two parties following the formation of the TVK government in Tamil Nadu.

The INDIA bloc meeting is being viewed as an important exercise in opposition coordination following recent political developments and electoral setbacks faced by some alliance partners. Leaders from more than 20 opposition parties are expected to discuss future strategy, internal coordination and issues concerning opposition unity.

While Congress has cited the MPs-only criterion for participation, the question of TVK's future role in the opposition alliance remains open, particularly given the party's growing political influence in Tamil Nadu and its evolving relationship with the Congress.