Archive · 6 Oct 2026
DMK Backs Akhilesh Yadav’s Call for Opposition Unity Against BJP
The DMK said opposition parties should work together instead of arguing about how many election seats each party gets.
Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav said defeating the BJP should be the main goal in Uttar Pradesh’s 2027 election.
He also said democracy, the Constitution and reservation should be protected.
DMK spokesperson T K S Elangovan accused officials of removing some voters from electoral lists, especially people he said might not support the BJP.
He also said the Election Commission was no longer neutral.
The reports do not include a response from the Commission or the BJP to those accusations.
Elangovan disagreed with the Tamil Nadu government’s claim that it saved money buying tur dal.
The government said lower prices through open tenders produced the savings.
Elangovan also said a court would decide a case about private bus operators’ challenge to free bus travel for women.
The DMK backed Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav’s call to put alliance victory ahead of seat-sharing in the 2027 Uttar Pradesh elections.
Yadav said on X that opposition parties should unite to defeat the BJP and protect democracy, the Constitution and reservation.
DMK spokesperson T K S Elangovan alleged that voter-roll revisions were removing voters from religious communities and people unlikely to support the BJP; the dispute has reached the Supreme Court.
Elangovan accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Election Commission of losing neutrality; the reports include no response from them to his allegations.
Elangovan disputed Tamil Nadu’s claimed Rs 187.56 crore in tur dal procurement savings, while the state attributed the savings to open tenders and lower prices.
- Who
- The DMK, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav and DMK spokesperson T K S Elangovan.
- What
- The DMK endorsed Yadav’s appeal for opposition unity over seat-sharing; Elangovan also made allegations about voter rolls and the Election Commission and disputed a state procurement-savings claim.
- When
- The reports are dated October 5; Yadav posted his appeal on X on Sunday. Uttar Pradesh’s Assembly election is scheduled for February 2027.
- Where
- Chennai; the reports discuss Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
- Why
- Yadav said unity was needed to defeat the BJP and protect democracy, the Constitution and reservation.
Criticism and challenges
Responses and government claims
Voter-roll revisions
Criticism and challenges
Elangovan alleged revisions were being used to remove voters from other religious communities and people unlikely to vote for the BJP.
Responses and government claims
The reports say the allegations are part of a dispute that has reached the Supreme Court, but provide no response from the BJP or Election Commission.
Election Commission neutrality
Criticism and challenges
Elangovan said the Election Commission had lost neutrality under Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging he was influenced by the ruling party at the Centre.
Responses and government claims
The reports include no response from Kumar or the Commission to the accusation.
Tur dal procurement savings
Criticism and challenges
Elangovan disputed the claimed savings and suggested they may be because procurement had not taken place.
Responses and government claims
The Tamil Nadu government said transparent open tenders reduced the procurement price and saved approximately Rs 187.56 crore over three months.
Women’s free bus travel
Criticism and challenges
Private bus operators argued in a Madras High Court petition that the scheme was hurting their business.
Responses and government claims
Elangovan said private operators opposed free travel for women and that the court would decide the case.
- Upcoming election
- Uttar Pradesh Assembly election, scheduled for February 2027
- Alliance issue
- Reports describe tensions between the Samajwadi Party and Congress over seat-sharing.
- DMK spokesperson
- T K S Elangovan
- Voter-roll dispute
- Alleged voter removals have become a matter before the Supreme Court, according to the reports.
- Tamil Nadu savings claim
- The state government said it saved approximately Rs 187.56 crore over three months on tur dal procurement for ration shops.
- Prices cited
- The reported per-kilogram price fell from Rs 109.15 under the previous DMK regime to Rs 77.89 under the current procurement.
- Bus travel case
- Private bus operators challenged the impact of the women’s free-travel scheme in the Madras High Court; Elangovan said the court would decide.
