Congress ends decades-old DMK alliance, extends support to Vijay’s TVK
The Indian National Congress on Wednesday (May 6, 2026) formally announced an alliance with actor-turned-politician C. Joseph Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), marking a significant shift in Tamil Nadu politics.
With this move, the Congress unilaterally ended its over two-decade-long alliance with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). The two parties had first joined hands ahead of the 2004 Lok Sabha elections and maintained ties for most of the period, barring a brief split during the 2014 general elections.
Announcing the development, AICC in-charge for Tamil Nadu Girish Chodankar said the new alliance with TVK would extend beyond government formation.
“This alliance between the TVK and the Tamil Nadu Congress will strive to bring back Perunthalaivar Kamaraj’s glory days of Tamil Nadu, with a strong commitment to Thanthai Periyar’s social justice ideals and Dr B R Ambedkar’s constitutional ideals in the years and decades to come. This alliance-founded on mutual respect, appropriate share, and shared responsibility between the two parties is not only for the formation of this government, but also for future elections to the local body organisations, the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha,” Chodankar said.
Congress backs TVK, sets conditions
The Congress said its support to TVK for forming the government in Tamil Nadu would be conditional, particularly regarding alliances.
“Our support shall be conditional upon the TVK keeping out from this alliance any communal forces that do not believe in the Constitution of India,” Chodankar said.
The party’s decision follows Vijay’s request for Congress support to form the next government.
“The people of Tamil Nadu, especially the youth, have delivered a very clear, strong and overwhelming verdict for a secular, progressive and welfarist government that believes in constitutional principles. They have chosen the Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) led by Mr Vijay to form the next government. The Indian National Congress stands for, and is the founding political party for, secular, progressive and welfarist politics in India. It is our constitutional duty to respect, uphold and help fulfil this mandate of the people of Tamil Nadu. Accordingly, the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee and the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) has decided to extend its full support to the TVK to form the government,” Chodankar said.
Impact on INDIA bloc dynamics
Despite the break with the DMK, Congress leaders indicated that both parties could continue to coexist within the opposition INDIA bloc at the national level. They pointed out that several parties within the bloc, including regional rivals, have contested against each other in state elections while remaining part of the alliance.
However, the development is likely to raise questions about unity and cohesion within the bloc.
Strains in Congress-DMK ties
The Congress’s decision comes amid growing friction with the DMK leadership. During the campaign, senior leaders including Rahul Gandhi and M. K. Stalin did not share the stage, signalling underlying tensions.
While Gandhi was reportedly open to exploring a tie-up with Vijay, the party leadership under Mallikarjun Kharge had earlier backed continuing the alliance with the DMK.
The Congress statement now highlights alignment between Vijay and Gandhi, stating that they “jointly pledge to respect this historic verdict of the people of Tamil Nadu for a secular and progressive government, and to fulfil the dreams and promises of the people especially the youth of Tamil Nadu.”
Political shift in Tamil Nadu
The Congress’s move is seen as aligning with the electoral sentiment in the state, with many party leaders and newly elected MLAs advocating support for TVK in line with the public mandate.
The alliance marks a major political realignment in Tamil Nadu, with Congress shifting its support base as TVK emerges as a key player in the state’s political landscape.
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