Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticized the Indian National Congress for ending its alliance with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) this week.
The timing of the remarks coincides with a significant shift in regional power, as a new political leader takes control of one of India's most influential states.
TVK chief Vijay was sworn in as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu following his party's victory in the 2026 Assembly elections [1]. The oath ceremony took place at Chennai’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, where Vijay officially assumed office.
During the proceedings, Modi targeted the Congress party for its decision to sever ties with the DMK. Modi said the Congress betrayed the DMK after years of partnership in a move driven by the pursuit of power.
Modi said the Congress party survived for 10 years due to its alliance with the DMK before the split occurred [2]. The prime minister's comments highlight the volatility of coalition politics in the region and the strategic calculations of national parties.
While Modi offered congratulations to Vijay on his new role, the focus of his public remarks remained on the breakdown of the previous political arrangement. The victory of Vijay's party marks a departure from the established dominance of traditional political blocs in Tamil Nadu.
The ceremony was attended by various figures, including actor Kamal Haasan, as the state transitions to a new administration under the TVK party.
“Modi said the Congress betrayed the DMK after years of partnership to pursue power.”
The rise of Vijay and the TVK party represents a disruption of the long-standing bipolar political landscape in Tamil Nadu. By criticizing the Congress-DMK split, Prime Minister Modi is leveraging regional instability to weaken the opposition's cohesion, while simultaneously acknowledging a new power center in the south that may be more open to negotiation than previous administrations.
