- By Shubham Bajpai
- Wed, 06 May 2026 08:19 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Congress has abandoned its old ally DMK in Tamil Nadu and announced its support to actor Vijay's new party, Tamilaga Vetti Kazhagam (TVK).
TVK made a splash in Tamil Nadu politics with its resounding victory in the recent assembly elections. Congress has conditioned its support, stating clearly that TVK will maintain a distance from 'communal forces' that do not believe in the Constitution.
How did the alliance happen?
The Congress stressed that the alliance will not be limited to government formation alone but will also include local body elections as well as the upcoming Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha elections.
Congress argues that it is taking this step to keep the BJP out of the state while respecting the mandate, while its old ally, the DMK, has called the alliance a blatant betrayal.
Congress sensed Vijay's dominance but failed to act
According to a report by Jagran.com, this decision wasn't made suddenly. Some Congress leaders were sceptical of DMK's win and had tried to convince the top brass to go with TVK. A report by NDTV suggests that two of those leaders were MP Manickam Tagore and Praveen Chakraborty.
After DMK's loss, Rahul Gandhi was quick to call Vijay to congratulate him and assure him of his full support. Kharge, Rahul, and KC Venugopal met in Delhi to confirm the decision.
Congress was also wary of DMK as it had refused to entertain the grand old party's demand for extra seats and a share in the government.
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Govt formation equation
TVK currently holds 108 seats in the 234-member assembly. A majority requires the support of 10 more, with Congress's five seats crucial. Congress is likely to receive two ministerial positions in Vijay's government. There is also talk of Rahul Gandhi attending the swearing-in ceremony.