The Indian National Congress has ended its long-standing alliance with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) to support the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) in Tamil Nadu.

This shift threatens the unity of the national opposition bloc as parties disagree on how to form a government in the state. The decision marks a significant departure from established political partnerships in southern India.

The Congress party terminated a 55-year alliance with the DMK [4]. This move follows the debut election of the TVK, which won 108 of 234 seats [1]. Because the TVK fell 10 seats short of a majority [2], the Congress party is seeking to join the governing coalition to ensure political influence in the region.

The Congress party currently holds five seats in the Tamil Nadu assembly [3]. By pledging support to the newly formed TVK, the party aims to secure a role in the state administration, a move that has strained relations with other opposition partners.

Other members of the national opposition have reacted with public disagreement. The Samajwadi Party (SP) said on social media that it stands with the DMK and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) [3]. This public statement highlights a growing fragmentation within the bloc as regional loyalties clash with the strategic goals of the Congress party.

The divide centers on whether to support the established DMK or the rising influence of the TVK. While the Congress party prioritized a path to power through the TVK, the SP said it maintained its alignment with the DMK and TMC to preserve existing partnerships [3].

“The Congress party terminated a 55-year alliance with the DMK.”

The collapse of the Congress-DMK partnership signals a shift toward pragmatic, seat-based alliances over long-term ideological blocs. By backing the TVK, Congress is betting on a new political force to gain executive power in Tamil Nadu, but in doing so, it has alienated key allies like the Samajwadi Party. This fragmentation suggests that the national opposition may struggle to maintain a unified front in future electoral cycles.