On Wednesday, the DMK officially announced its decision to boycott the “At Home Reception” hosted by Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi at the Raj Bhavan on Independence Day. R.S. Bharathi, the organizational secretary of the DMK, confirmed that no party representatives would attend the event. He added that any official participation from the government would be communicated by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, who also leads the DMK.
This boycott comes in the wake of several of the DMK’s allies, including the Congress party, declaring their intention to skip the Independence Day tea party organized by Governor Ravi. The decision is rooted in a belief that the Governor’s actions have been counter to the interests of Tamil Nadu. K. Selvaperunthagai, President of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC), criticized the Governor’s actions as detrimental to the state and its democratically elected government. In an official statement, Selvaperunthagai expressed gratitude for the invitation but condemned what he described as politically motivated activities under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s regime, leading to their boycott of the tea party.
Additionally, Thol Thirumavalavan, leader of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and an ally of the DMK, also announced his party’s decision to abstain from the event. Thirumavalavan criticized the Governor’s actions as “anti-Tamil Nadu” and stated that their absence would serve as a protest against these perceived injustices.
Other left-leaning parties, including the Communist Party of India (CPI), the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)], and the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), have similarly decided to skip the tea party, aligning with the broader opposition against the Governor’s actions.
