CHENNAI: In a move that could reshape alliance dynamics in Tamil Nadu, the Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar) [TMC(M)] on Sunday announced its withdrawal from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), with party president GK Vasan saying the organisation now needs to focus on rebuilding itself independently.

The decision was taken after extensive consultations with the party’s executive committee and senior office-bearers in Chennai.

According to Vasan, an overwhelming majority of party functionaries felt that the TMC(M) must prioritise strengthening its organisational structure and expanding its reach at the grassroots level before entering future electoral battles.

Addressing reporters after the meeting, Vasan said the party’s experience over the past several years had prompted a reassessment of its political strategy.

While the TMC(M) had participated in successive Assembly and Lok Sabha elections as part of broader alliances, it had struggled to convert those efforts into meaningful electoral gains.

‘Most of our office-bearers felt that the party should concentrate on organisational growth and prepare itself as a stronger independent force,’ he said, adding that the upcoming local body elections could provide an opportunity for cadres to reconnect with voters directly.

Vasan was careful to underline that the decision was not the result of any disagreement with alliance partners.

He maintained that the TMC(M) continued to enjoy cordial relations with the BJP, the AIADMK and other constituents of the NDA.

The former Union Minister said the party’s leadership believed that alliance politics, while important during elections, can sometimes restrict the scope for independent organisational activity.

Functionaries had argued that operating outside an alliance framework for the time being would allow local leaders and cadres to take greater initiative in expanding the party’s presence across Tamil Nadu.

The announcement comes at a time when political parties in the State are reassessing their strategies after the recent Assembly elections.

The AIADMK-led NDA failed to make a major electoral breakthrough, finishing behind its principal rivals and triggering introspection among several alliance partners.

Against that backdrop, the TMC(M) leadership appears to have concluded that a period of independent political work is necessary to revive the party’s fortunes and re-establish its identity among voters.

Despite the exit, Vasan left the door open for future political understandings, acknowledging that alliances remain an integral part of Tamil Nadu’s electoral landscape.

For now, however, he said the party’s immediate priority would be organisational consolidation rather than coalition politics.

The development carries symbolic significance as the TMC(M) becomes the first constituent of the AIADMK-led NDA to formally walk away from the alliance after the Assembly elections.

Founded in 1996 by veteran Congress leader GK Moopanar following a split from the Congress over its alliance strategy in Tamil Nadu, the Tamil Maanila Congress quickly emerged as a formidable regional force.

It played a crucial role in the sweeping victory of the DMK-led front in the 1996 elections before witnessing a series of political realignments in the years that followed.

Under the leadership of GK Vasan, the party has sought to reclaim its independent identity.

Sunday’s decision marks its latest attempt to rebuild from the ground up and regain relevance in the State’s evolving political landscape.