MDMK quits DMK alliance, backs TVK as Tamil Nadu political realignment deepens

The Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) formally left the DMK‑led Secular Progressive Alliance after nine years, passing a unanimous resolution at its 32nd General Council in Chennai. Party chief Vaiko announced that MDMK will support Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) in upcoming Assembly by‑elections and local‑body polls. Two of the party’s MLAs reacted differently: Sirkazhi MLA Senthil Selvan said he will remain with the DMK, while Kadayanallur MLA TM Rajendran chose to stay in MDMK.

DMK president M. K. Stalin warned that the TVK government, which holds only 108 of the 234 seats, lacks a full mandate and could collapse within three to six months, urging DMK cadres to prepare for imminent elections. The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) declared support for TVK, rejecting what it called an “indirect alliance” between DMK and AIADMK. The Congress party reshuffled its Tamil Nadu leadership, appointing B. Manickam Tagore as state president; Tagore had previously advocated an alliance with TVK. The BJP criticised the DMK for mistreating alliance partners following MDMK’s exit.

These moves reflect a broader realignment in Tamil Nadu politics after the 2026 Assembly election, with multiple parties (Congress, IUML, VCK, Left parties) extending backing to the TVK government to help it reach a working majority, while the stability of the administration remains in question.