Political commentator S. Gurumurthy said the DMK and AIADMK are an "ATM" system in Tamil Nadu politics during a recent interview with NDTV.

The critique comes as the state faces a political deadlock following the 2026 Legislative Assembly election. With no single party holding a clear mandate, the stability of the regional government depends on complex negotiations between established powers and new political entrants.

Gurumurthy used the term "ATM politics" to highlight what he described as the transactional and money-focused nature of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) [1]. He said these parties operate through a system of financial exchange rather than ideological governance [1].

This commentary arrives as actor-turned-politician Vijay and his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), navigate the aftermath of the polls. The TVK emerged as the largest party in the assembly, winning 108 seats [2]. However, the party fell short of the majority required to form a government independently [3].

Because the TVK lacks a majority, Vijay is currently under pressure to secure coalitions [2]. The DMK and AIADMK are reportedly scrambling to prevent the TVK from forming a government as post-poll chaos continues in the state [2].

The emergence of the TVK has disrupted the traditional bipolar dominance of the DMK and AIADMK. While the TVK holds the most seats, the established parties are leveraging their existing structures to maintain influence over the legislative process [2].

Gurumurthy's analysis suggests that the systemic issues within the older parties may hinder the transition to a new leadership style led by Vijay. The focus on transactional politics, Gurumurthy said, remains a defining characteristic of the state's political machinery [1].

“Gurumurthy described the DMK and AIADMK as an "ATM" system in Tamil Nadu politics.”

The 2026 election results indicate a significant shift in Tamil Nadu's political landscape, breaking the long-term duopoly of the DMK and AIADMK. However, the 'ATM politics' critique suggests that even with a new largest party, the entrenched transactional nature of the state's political culture may force new leaders like Vijay into the same compromise-heavy and money-driven systems they sought to replace.