The Indian National Congress has ended its long-standing alliance with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam to support the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam in Tamil Nadu.
This shift marks a significant realignment in the state's political landscape. By backing actor C. Joseph Vijay and his party, Congress is pivoting away from a decades-long partnership to empower a new political force.
The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) emerged as the largest party in its debut election, winning 108 seats [1]. Despite this performance, the party lacked the majority required to form the government independently. To bridge this gap, Congress announced it will contribute five MLAs to support TVK [2].
Congress leaders said the decision is based on a partnership of mutual respect, appropriate share, and shared responsibility. The move is designed to enable the TVK to establish the state government and implement its agenda.
The decision to dump the DMK comes as a surprise to many observers given the history of the two parties. This strategic pivot allows Congress to align itself with a rising populist movement led by Vijay, who has transitioned from the film industry to state politics.
The TVK's 108 seats [1] place it in a position of strength, but the addition of the five Congress legislators [2] provides the necessary stability for the party to take power. This arrangement effectively shuts out the DMK from the immediate governing coalition.
“Congress will contribute five MLAs to support TVK”
This realignment signals a volatility in Tamil Nadu's traditional coalition politics. By abandoning the DMK for a debut party like the TVK, the Indian National Congress is betting on the celebrity-led appeal of C. Joseph Vijay to maintain its relevance in the region. This move may isolate the DMK and fundamentally alter the power dynamics between established Dravidian parties and new political entrants.
