Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections 2026 | Congress walks out of DMK alliance to join hands with Vijay's TVK

Chennai: Breaking its long-standing alliance with DMK, the Congress on Wednesday jumped ship to support the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) to form the next government in Tamil Nadu and announced that the new alliance will continue for the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.

Congress in-charge for Tamil Nadu Girish Chodankar said in a statement that the people of Tamil Nadu, especially youth, have delivered a very clear, strong and overwhelming verdict for a secular, progressive and welfarist government that believes in constitutional principles.

“…the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee and the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) has decided to extend its full support to the TVK to form the government. Our support shall be conditional upon the TV keeping out from this alliance any communal forces that do not believe in the Constitution of India,” Chodankar said.

He added that the TVK and Congress will strive to bring back the “glorious days” of late Chief Minister K Kamaraj and that the alliance was founded on mutual respect, appropriate share, and shared responsibility between the two parties.

“This alliance…is not only for the formation of this government, but also for future elections to the local body organisations, the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha,” Chodankar said.

He added that Vijay and Rahul Gandhi jointly pledge to respect this historic verdict of the people of Tamil Nadu for a secular and progressive government, and to fulfil the dreams and promises of the people, especially Tamil Nadu’s youth.

Congress quitting the DMK alliance was expected especially after Rahul Gandhi spoke to Vijay on the day of election results. Congress wanted to quit the DMK alliance and join TVK before elections, but senior leaders decided to contest the elections with the ruling party.

Congress and the DMK have contested every elections from 2004 to 2026, except the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. The alliance was stitched by Sonia Gandhi in 2004 to take on the BJP.