MNM undecided on alliance, DMDK no longer part of NDA

MNM, DMDK undecided on joining Opp. alliance; both parties had close ties with Congress, BJP respectively. MNM, DMDK yet to decide on joining coalition; both parties supported Congress, BJP on key issues. Despite close ties, MNM, DMDK not invited to Opp., NDA meetings; both parties to decide on alliance closer to elections.

Actor Kamal Haasan’s Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM), which was not invited to the meeting of Opposition parties in Bengaluru, is undecided on joining a coalition, despite its “close relations” with the Congress.

Mr. Haasan supported the Congress on key issues, walked long Rahul Gandhi in his Bharat Jodo Yatra and participated in the swearing-in of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Against this backdrop, Mr. Haasan was expected to take part at the Bengaluru meeting wherein 26 Opposition parties formally named their alliance I.N.D.I.A.

Instead, Mr. Haasan was in San Diego where he took part at the ‘Comic Con’ to talk about his film, Kalki 2898 A.D., in which he plays the villain opposite actor Prabhas.

Did the Congress, which remains the fulcrum of the Opposition alliance, not invite Mr. Haasan to the meeting, despite asking smaller parties in the DMK-led alliance, including the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi and the MDMK?

MNM general secretary A. Arunachalam said the party had developed close relations with the Congress as both held similar positions on several issues.

However, he said, “We extended support to the Congress on several issues. We are yet to decide on joining their alliance as we are strengthening our party base in the Lok Sabha constituencies across Tamil Nadu. We will decide on the alliance closer to the elections. Since this was a meeting of alliance partners, we didn’t feature at it,” he said.