In a significant political realignment in Tamil Nadu, the long-standing alliance between the Indian National Congress and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has broken after the Congress extended its support to the newly formed Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) for government formation.
This follows the All India Congress Committee giving its support to TVK, leaving the final decision to the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee.
The move triggered sharp reactions from the DMK, which termed the development as “backstabbing.”
The Congress–DMK partnership, spanning over five decades, has been marked by both cooperation and friction.
From their early electoral understanding in the 1970s to their collaboration during the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) era at the Centre, the alliance has endured ideological differences, seat-sharing disputes, and evolving voter dynamics.
However, the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election results seem to have pushed the relationship to a breaking point.
Signs of strain were visible even before the elections.
The Congress had expressed dissatisfaction over the number of seats allocated to it by the DMK and the denial of constituencies where it believed it had a strong chance of winning. The discontent was evident during the campaign, as DMK president MK Stalin and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi did not share the stage at any point. At the time, both parties downplayed the optics, attributing it to scheduling constraints.
The rift became more pronounced after the election results. On Tuesday, the Congress skipped a key meeting convened by Stalin to consult alliance partners, further fuelling speculation about a split.
Reacting strongly, DMK spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai told agencies that the Congress’s decision to support the TVK was “short-sighted” and warned that the party would regret it. He added that the move portrayed the Congress as an “unstable partner,” damaging its credibility nationwide. “The perception across the country will be that the Congress cannot be trusted,” he said.
Political analysts believe that a formal break-up could have implications beyond Tamil Nadu.
At the national level, the Congress relies on DMK’s support on several key issues in Parliament. A rupture in ties could complicate coordination within opposition ranks and weaken collective bargaining power in matters of national interest.
B Manickam Tagore, Congress Member of Parliament from Virudhunagar, said on X, “The verdict has gone against the DMK government. Half the ministers in the Cabinet have lost their seats. We faced collateral damage for no fault of ours.
“Now, BJP is eyeing Tamil Nadu. The question before us is clear: Should we stand with those rejected by the people’s verdict, or should we unite with the force that fought against BJP and fight to stop BJP from ruling Tamil Nadu,” he said.
Published on May 6, 2026