The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) accused the Indian National Congress of betraying Tamil Nadu after the party left their alliance to support a rival [1, 2].
This political shift threatens the stability of the INDI bloc and alters the power dynamics in Tamil Nadu following the 2026 state election results [1, 3].
The conflict erupted when Congress pledged conditional support to the Tamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), a party led by Vijay [2, 3]. DMK officials viewed the move as a betrayal because Congress had been allocated key seats within the DMK-led alliance during the campaign [1, 3].
Saravanan Annadurai, a DMK spokesperson, said, "Congress has stabbed Stalin in the back" [2].
Congress representatives defended the decision, saying the move was intended to facilitate the formation of the next state government. An unnamed Congress spokesperson said, "We are extending conditional support to TVK to help form the next Tamil Nadu government" [2].
Opponents of both parties have dismissed the conflict as political theater. J. Jayalalithaa Palaniswami, a BJP leader and former chief minister, said, "DMK and Congress are staging backstage drama" [2].
The DMK maintains that the shift is not mere drama but a calculated political betrayal of the state and its leadership [1].
“"Congress has stabbed Stalin in the back."”
The collapse of the DMK-Congress partnership indicates a significant fracture in the opposition's regional strategy. By pivoting to Vijay's TVK, Congress is attempting to hedge its bets on a rising political force, while the DMK faces the challenge of maintaining its leadership position without its primary national ally.
