Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections 2026 | 'Backstabbers': Is this the end of DMK-Congress alliance?

Having secured 59 seats as part of a pre-poll alliance with the Congress, the DMK now risks being politically sidelined if the former extends support to TVK.

The churning in Tamil Nadu post the Assembly election results has triggered visible strain within the DMK–Congress alliance, raising questions about whether this is the first sign of a political split. With Vijay’s TVK emerging as the single-largest party with 108 seats, falling just short of a majority by 10 seats, the balance of power has shifted dramatically.

With Vijay's TVK needing support of 10 more MLAs to form a majority govt, the party needs to get in talks with other parties in the State. The DMK and the AIDMK, at this moment, do not seem to be the natural allies for power sharing with the TVK. The first sign of some alliance arrangement is coming from the DMK's old ally the Congress.

Congress general secretary K C Venugopal informed media that TVK president Vijay has "requested INC for support to form a government". He further said, "The INC is determined not to have the BJP and proxies run the Government of Tamil Nadu in any manner. Accordingly, the Congress leadership has directed the TNCC to take a final decision on Vijay's request, keeping in view the sentiments of the State reflected in the electoral verdict."

For the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, this statement appears to signal a potential shift in loyalties. Having secured 59 seats as part of a pre-poll alliance with the Congress, the DMK now risks being politically sidelined if the Congress extends support to the TVK.

DMK spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai, on NDTV, when asked about the statement from Venugopal, said the Congress is acting like "backstabbers". He also questioned that when all major decisions in the Congress are taken by the central leadership, how can this be left at the local party unit.

The reaction from DMK spokesperson has been sharp and public. Calling Congress "backstabbers" and questioning its decision-making process, he hinted at a breakdown of trust — something rarely expressed so openly between alliance partners.

Annadurai also posted a message with two words on X — "The Backstabbers".

The Congress now faces a strategic dilemma: honour its alliance commitments or align with the emerging power centre. While alliances in Indian politics are often fluid, the tone and timing of this fallout suggest more than routine friction. If the Congress ultimately backs the TVK, this moment could well be remembered as the first clear sign of a political 'divorce' between the DMK and the Congress in Tamil Nadu.