‘Backstabbing!’ DMK explodes as Congress eyes support for Vijay’s TVK

Chennai: Actor-turned-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has emerged as the single largest party in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections with 108 seats. However, despite its strong debut performance, the party has fallen short of the majority mark required to independently form a government in the state.

The election outcome has placed TVK at the centre of post-poll negotiations, with the party initiating discussions with multiple political groups in an effort to build the numbers needed to stake claim to power. The fractured mandate has opened up a complex political equation in Tamil Nadu, where no single alliance has secured a clear majority.

Congress signals conditional support amid alliance tensions

In a major political development, the Congress — which is currently part of the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance — has reportedly shown willingness to extend support to a TVK-led government under certain conditions.

AICC general secretary KC Venugopal confirmed that Vijay had formally approached the Congress seeking support. He reiterated the party’s ideological position, stating, “INC is clear that the mandate in Tamil Nadu is for a secular government committed to protecting the Constitution in letter and spirit. INC is determined not to let BJP and its proxies run the government of Tamil Nadu in any manner.”

However, party sources indicate that any support to TVK would likely be conditional, particularly on the party’s stance of not aligning with the BJP or its allies. The final decision on whether Congress will extend outside support or formally participate in any arrangement is still under discussion.

DMK hits back, calls move ‘backstabbing’

The Congress’s willingness to explore an alternative alliance has triggered a sharp political backlash from the DMK, which has been its long-standing electoral partner in Tamil Nadu.

DMK spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai strongly criticised the move, accusing Congress of political betrayal and referring to it as “backstabbing.” He argued that Congress had benefited significantly from its alliance with the DMK and questioned the rationale behind supporting a rival formation.

He also pointed out that the Congress managed to win five of the 28 seats it contested as part of the alliance, suggesting that its electoral performance was tied to the DMK-led coalition.

Other alliance partners remain non-committal

Several other parties within the DMK-led alliance, including CPI(M), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), have so far refrained from taking a clear position on supporting TVK.

Most of these parties have stated that they will consult their internal committees before arriving at a formal decision, keeping the post-election scenario open-ended.

AIADMK signals mixed stance as talks continue

Meanwhile, signals from the AIADMK have remained inconsistent. While some senior leaders have publicly denied any discussions with TVK, other functionaries have indicated that informal conversations may be taking place regarding potential post-poll alignments.

Political uncertainty continues in Tamil Nadu

With no clear majority emerging, Tamil Nadu remains in a phase of intense political negotiation. The evolving divide between Congress and DMK has added a new layer of uncertainty, while TVK continues efforts to consolidate support from multiple parties.

As discussions continue behind the scenes, the coming days are expected to be crucial in determining whether Vijay’s TVK can convert its electoral surge into a governing majority or whether a broader coalition will shape the next government in Tamil Nadu.