NEW DELHI: Congress on Friday rejected any possibility of an alliance between Bharatiya Janata Party and DMK, claiming that the two parties have different ideologies.Rajya Sabha member and senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said Congress remains in contact with DMK MPs, claiming that the Dravidian party is still in the opposition.“BJP and DMK can never come together because their ideologies are different. It is true that DMK was not present at the INDIA bloc meeting on the 8th, and that we are supporting the TVK. We also have two Cabinet ministers in the government,” Jairam Ramesh said.“We remain in contact with DMK MPs, and discussions are on. DMK is still an opposition party, not a ruling party or a part of the NDA. I have read statements by Stalin, and it is clear that there is no agreement between the BJP and the DMK… I am confident that when the time comes, the DMK will stand against the Delimitation Bill,” he added.Meanwhile, news agency PTI, citing sources, reported that DMK is studying the Delimitation Bill and will take a decision based on its “merits” to protect Tamil Nadu’s interests.“As and when the scope and objectives of the Bill are made known, they shall be analysed and a decision will be taken,” DMK sources told PTI.“DMK’s decision would be independent and based on merit to protect the interests of the state. The party has been given to understand that the proposed Bill on delimitation is likely to be a standalone legislation and not part of an overall bundle of connected legislations,” they added.Sources also said that delimitation was among the issues discussed at the party’s meeting of MPs held on July 16.“A 50 per cent increase in seats and retaining the existing proportion of seat distribution among states were among the points discussed,” sources told PTI.DMK had earlier staunchly opposed the delimitation exercise in its previous form, and a Constitution Amendment Bill in this connection was defeated in Parliament in April this year.However, the political dynamics in Parliament changed after Tamil Nadu assembly elections, with Congress ending its long-standing alliance with DMK and joining TVK camp.Against this background, sources indicated that the Dravidian party will decide the matter on its own and will not consult the Congress, the main constituent of the INDIA bloc.This comes as government is likely to reintroduce the Constitution amendment bill to operationalise the women’s reservation law through delimitation.The Monsoon session of Parliament will continue till August 13.
