M.K. Stalin’s call for an urgent DMK MPs meeting in Chennai on October 16, 2026 came after a week of escalating protests against the Supreme Court’s interim ruling on parliamentary delimitation. The meeting, chaired by the former chief minister, is expected to hash out a strategy to counter the central government’s crackdown on dissent.
Stalin slammed the detention of CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and other activists, demanding their immediate release. “Detaining them without disclosing their whereabouts is blatantly illegal and deeply inhumane,” he posted on X, adding that every attempt to suppress peaceful protests would only embolden the movement.
In the backdrop of the DMK’s historic split from the INDIA bloc, party leaders are reportedly courting the CJP and regional parties to forge a third front. If the alliance materializes, it could deepen fractures within the opposition and alter the balance of power in Tamil Nadu ahead of the next state elections.
The DMK’s stance on delimitation and women’s reservation bills—both of which failed in the House earlier this year—has made it a bargaining chip for the BJP. Sources say the central government is eyeing the DMK’s 22 MPs to secure a 50% seat‑increase across the board. The next step will be a special parliamentary session later this month to push the contested bills, with the DMK’s support now a pivotal bargaining card.