DMK is the third largest party in the Lok Sabha but looks like the party chief has not been invited for Narendra Modi’s swearing-in as the prime minister of the country.
A source close to the DMK President MK Stalin said that this was just “petty politics and they won’t be bowed down by this.”
“It is apparent that Mr Modi has not been able to overcome the defeat in Tamil Nadu even though he has swept across the rest of the country. It would have been statesman-like to extend an invitation to the leader of the third largest party in Parliament.”Manuraj Shunmugasundaram, Spokesperson, DMK
Earlier today, Stalin attended the swearing-in ceremony of the YSR Congress Party chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy as the second Chief Minister of Navya Andhra Pradesh.
Sources said all DMK representatives got the invitation but not the chief.
“We will take part in the swearing-in ceremony only if our leader Stalin in invited. We are waiting,” said DMK spokesperson TKS Elangovan, quoted The Times Of India.
Stalin has always been quite loud in raising an anti-Modi voice. He has criticised the prime minister for demonetisation, Cauvery tussle with Karnataka, indifference to Tamil fishermen being arrested by Srilankan Navy and many other issues.
Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, PMK founder S Ramadoss, PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss will be attending the ceremony.
While Modi managed to engulf most of the country with his saffron flag, Tamil Nadu emerged red and black. DMK swept Tamil Nadu in the national elections by winning 37 of the 38 constituencies. What makes this significant is that this was the first election without veteran leader M Karunanidhi and under the leadership of his son MK Stalin.
The DMK-Congress pulled off this wave leaving the AIADMK-BJP alliance with victory in only one seat.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)