Tamil Nadu Congress divided over alliance strategy ahead of 2026 polls

Chennai: As assembly elections draw near, the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) appears to be preparing the ground for a "hard bargain" and posturing with the ruling DMK over seat-sharing, as the faction-ridden unit is split into three divergent views regarding the alliance.

One faction wants the Congress to accept whatever numbers the DMK allot to them; the second wants the party to bargain for 40 to 45 seats and power sharing with the DMK; and the third wants the party to explore an electoral tie-up with Vijay’s TVK, sources told DH.

Congress and DMK have fought every election since 2004 except the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, but the seats contested by the national party in the assembly elections have been on the decline. From 48 in 2006, the party got 63 seats in 2011 but this was reduced to 41 in 2016 and further to 25 in 2021, the lowest number the Congress has contested so far. Congress currently has 17 MLAs and many leaders want the party’s strength in the Assembly to increase by contesting more seats in the 2026 assembly elections.

Those clamouring for the third option point to the gradual reduction of the seats to the party and DMK leaders’ ignoring Congress cadres and not protecting their interests as reasons for their idea, while those rooting for the second option say it is imperative that the party gets the respect it deserves in the alliance.

The development comes at a time when Congress leaders are openly criticising its ally DMK in public forums and demanding more seats in the 2026 elections. The voices became louder after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi spoke to Vijay a day after a stampede at his rally in Karur on September 27 that led to the death of 41 people to express his condolences.

This led to intense speculation about whether the party was trying to use actor Vijay as the “bargaining chip” with the DMK. Though Congress said the telephone call was made as a courtesy call, and nothing political should be read into the “gesture”, rumours continue to swirl.

It is also believed that the party has constituted a committee to meet functionaries and cadres to elicit their views on the alliance, but TNCC chief K Selvaperunthagai told DH that such a panel does not exist. Senior leaders in the TNCC said even if the panel exists, it was not in a position to decide on the alliance and that functionaries should prepare for the elections instead of “posturing.”

“As we speak, the Congress is in a strong and ideological alliance with the DMK. The number of seats may be less, but we have to look at our individual strength as well, which isn’t rosy. We can’t win seats on our own. Also, one shouldn’t forget that DMK has 32 MPs who stand behind the Congress in both houses of Parliament,” the leader said.

Another leader said the “only option” before the Congress vis-à-vis the 2026 polls is to stay put in the DMK alliance, and any deviation from that will result in a “misadventure.” “I don’t deny that we have issues with the DMK. There are numerous problems with the DMK, but for this election, breaking away from DMK’s alliance will only be disastrous. And TVK is not an option for now,” the leader added.

A Congress lawmaker said the DMK has to realise that the Congress brings about five percent of votes to the electoral table and the number of seats allotted to the party should be proportional.

“We agreed to 25 seats in 2021 since the DMK argued that they should contest at least 170 seats to get a majority. We believed DMK would respect us, but that hasn’t happened. We want more seats and a share in power. It is the DMK that has to decide now,” the lawmaker said, adding that the DMK might heed their demands since the Congress now has an option in TVK.

However, senior leaders said using the TVK to “exert pressure” on the DMK might not work as the actor is still “untested.” “Vijay is a newcomer and we don’t know his strengths and weaknesses. Rahul spoke to Vijay since he subscribes to secular principles and to keep open the channel with him. It doesn’t mean we are warming up to him or vice-versa,” a senior leader said.