What is the story about?
The Congress breaking ties with the DMK to join hands with the TVK in Tamil Nadu has not gone down well with the outgoing ruling party.
The development comes after actor Vijay’s TVK emerged as the single largest party in Tamil Nadu on its political debut. Though the party got 108 seats in the 234-member Assembly, it fell short of the 118 magic mark needed to form the government. The DMK, meanwhile, got 59 seats, while the opposition All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) won 47 seats.
The Congress, which won five seats, has agreed to join hands with the TVK. They will be relying on some smaller parties to bridge the numbers gap and form the government.
But what does this mean for the India bloc at the national level?
Let’s take a closer look:
First, let’s take a closer look at the reaction from the DMK. The MK Stalin-led DMK has slammed its India bloc ally as a ‘backstabber’ for its decision to link up with the TVK. DMK joint secretary and spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai called it a ‘foolish decision’ done to satisfy ‘a few egos’. Annadurai told
NDTV that the Congress only got its five seats on account of its tie-up with the DMK. “Otherwise, they would have drawn a blank at the recent polls,” Saravanan said.
He claimed that the TVK is “close to the BJP”. “TVK has never spoken a single word against the BJP or Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In fact, today Vijay’s first thanks is not to the people of the state who elected him, not to his constituents who elected him, not to his members who worked for him to get him elected. His first thanks is to PM Modi. And Rahul Gandhi wants to support this kind of person?” Saravanan added.
“When we speak of an alliance, the India alliance, it is an alliance based on ideology.”
Saravanan also claimed that the DMK supported Rahul when others did not. “In 2016, the Congress got a good number of seats, though it was not proportionate to the seats that were allocated to them. The BJP-RSS was mocking Rahul Gandhi, calling him names. At that time, our leader, MK Stalin, made Rahul Gandhi the prime ministerial candidate, which was a bold move. From then onwards, Rahul Gandhi’s graph rose in 2024... It is all the hard work of the DMK on the ground, the resources of the DMK party on the ground, and that is why they were able to pull off these five seats,” Saravanan was quoted as saying by
The Times of India. He warned that it would create doubts in the minds of other Congress allies, including Akhilesh Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav and Uddhav Thackeray.
The Congress has said that the people of Tamil Nadu have voted for a secular government and that it will not allow the “BJP and its proxies” to come to power.
Congress general secretary KC Venugopal wrote on X , “TVK president Thiru Vijay has requested the Indian National Congress for support to form a government in Tamil Nadu. He has spoken about drawing inspiration from Perumthalaivar Kamaraj as well in his political mission. The INC is clear that the mandate in Tamil Nadu is for a secular government that is committed to protecting the Constitution in letter and spirit.”
“The INC is determined not to have the BJP and its proxies run the Government of Tamil Nadu in any manner. Accordingly, the Congress leadership has directed the TNCC to take a final decision on Thiru Vijay’s request, keeping in view the sentiments of the state reflected in the electoral verdict,” he added.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wrote on X, “I spoke to Thiru Vijay and congratulated him on TVK’s spectacular result. My heartfelt thanks to the Congress workers of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry for their hard work and support. I reiterate that the
Congress party will continue to protect and serve the people of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.”
While Saravanan has warned that the decision by the Congress to ally with the TVK could impact its other allies, including Akhilesh Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav and Uddhav Thackeray, the grand old party does not seem ready or willing to have a confrontation.
Congress MP Manickam Tagore was quoted as saying by The Times of India, “The verdict has gone against the DMK government. Half the ministers in the Cabinet have lost their seats. We faced collateral damage for no fault of ours. Now, the BJP is eyeing Tamil Nadu. The question before us is clear: should we stand with those rejected by the people’s verdict, or should we unite with the force that fought against the BJP and fight to stop the BJP from ruling Tamil Nadu?”
Whether the TVK will remain part of the India bloc or leave as a result of this ‘betrayal’ only time will tell.
Meanwhile, Rahul has warned the opposition not to gloat over Mamata Banerjee’s loss in Bengal to the BJP. The BJP created history this week by winning 207 seats in West Bengal compared to just 80 for the TMC. Mamata also lost her own seat of Bhabanipur to the BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari.
“Some in the Congress, and others, are gloating about the TMC’s loss. They need to understand this clearly — the theft of Assam and Bengal’s mandate is a big step forward by the BJP in its mission to destroy Indian democracy. Put petty politics aside. This is not about one party or another. This is about India,” Rahul wrote on X.
Rahul also claimed that the BJP has ‘stolen’ the elections in Assam and West Bengal with the support of the Election Commission.
“Assam and Bengal are clear cases of the election being stolen by the BJP with the support of the EC. We agree with Mamata ji. More than 100 seats were stolen in Bengal,” Rahul added. Mamata has claimed that the BJP ‘looted’ 100 seats in West Bengal and vowed not to resign as Chief Minister.
However, others in the India alliance — of which the TMC was a founding member — have remained mum. Rahul, interestingly, prior to the election had decried Mamata as ‘corrupt’ and blamed her for giving the BJP a ‘foothold’ in West Bengal. “The TMC has broken all records of corruption in Bengal… The people of Bengal are stuck between the hatred-spreading BJP and anti-people TMC,” he was quoted as saying by
The Indian Express.
The Bengal Congress is anyway at odds with the TMC, which itself broke away from the party in the state. Mamata, famously, was a Congress youth worker who honed her political skills in Kalighat and decided to form her own party in 1998. She came to power in 2011.
However, according to the newspaper, the two parties have worked together at the national level recently — particularly in Parliament when they both opposed the 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill. The Congress was among the parties offering Trinamool support when it submitted notices to impeach Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar ahead of the West Bengal polls.
The Left occupies a uniquely contradictory space within the India bloc. It opposes the All India Trinamool Congress in West Bengal and the Congress in Kerala, while aligning with both against the Bharatiya Janata Party at the national level. This reflects the unique nature of Indian politics, where rivalries in the states can often override a national coalition. However, recent results have left the Left largely marginalised on the national stage.
The results in Bihar last year delivered a massive mandate for the NDA with 202 seats, and the BJP emerged as the single largest party for the first time. Meanwhile, the Rashtriya Janata Dal, led by Tejashwi Yadav, which got just 25 seats, remains on the back foot. To make matters worse for the India bloc, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has now sounded the Uttar Pradesh bugle in his Bengal victory speech. The state remains key to the BJP maintaining its dominance at the Centre.
As per News18, Modi in his victory speech to workers has already gone after the Samajwadi Party, led by Akhilesh Yadav, over the women’s reservation Bill, saying that it failed to remove the “stain” of being anti-women. Modi added that the party “crushed the dreams” of Ram Manohar Lohia and that women in the state and across India “will never forget”. The question now is whether Akhilesh will ally with Rahul, given the Congress’ dismal show in the recently held Assembly polls.
The bottom line is this: despite Rahul’s call for the opposition to rally behind Mamata and his repeated claims of ‘vote chori’, the opposition bloc looks to be in disarray as usual. And unity for the 2029 polls, if that is the holy grail, is a long shot.
1. Why did Congress break ties with DMK in Tamil Nadu?
Congress chose to support Vijay’s TVK after it emerged as the single largest party, aiming to back a “secular government” and prevent the BJP or its allies from gaining power.
2. What does this mean for the India bloc?
It highlights internal contradictions, where parties are allies nationally but rivals in states, raising doubts about long-term unity.
3. Will the DMK–Congress alliance be permanently affected?
It is unclear. While tensions are high, both parties may still cooperate nationally depending on political compulsions ahead of future elections.
With inputs from agencies
The development comes after actor Vijay’s TVK emerged as the single largest party in Tamil Nadu on its political debut. Though the party got 108 seats in the 234-member Assembly, it fell short of the 118 magic mark needed to form the government. The DMK, meanwhile, got 59 seats, while the opposition All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) won 47 seats.
The Congress, which won five seats, has agreed to join hands with the TVK. They will be relying on some smaller parties to bridge the numbers gap and form the government.
But what does this mean for the India bloc at the national level?
Let’s take a closer look:
DMK’s outraged reaction
First, let’s take a closer look at the reaction from the DMK. The MK Stalin-led DMK has slammed its India bloc ally as a ‘backstabber’ for its decision to link up with the TVK. DMK joint secretary and spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai called it a ‘foolish decision’ done to satisfy ‘a few egos’. Annadurai told
He claimed that the TVK is “close to the BJP”. “TVK has never spoken a single word against the BJP or Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In fact, today Vijay’s first thanks is not to the people of the state who elected him, not to his constituents who elected him, not to his members who worked for him to get him elected. His first thanks is to PM Modi. And Rahul Gandhi wants to support this kind of person?” Saravanan added.
The DMK led by MK Stalin got 59 seats in the Assembly polls. PTI
Saravanan also claimed that the DMK supported Rahul when others did not. “In 2016, the Congress got a good number of seats, though it was not proportionate to the seats that were allocated to them. The BJP-RSS was mocking Rahul Gandhi, calling him names. At that time, our leader, MK Stalin, made Rahul Gandhi the prime ministerial candidate, which was a bold move. From then onwards, Rahul Gandhi’s graph rose in 2024... It is all the hard work of the DMK on the ground, the resources of the DMK party on the ground, and that is why they were able to pull off these five seats,” Saravanan was quoted as saying by
What Congress is saying
The Congress has said that the people of Tamil Nadu have voted for a secular government and that it will not allow the “BJP and its proxies” to come to power.
Congress general secretary KC Venugopal wrote on X , “TVK president Thiru Vijay has requested the Indian National Congress for support to form a government in Tamil Nadu. He has spoken about drawing inspiration from Perumthalaivar Kamaraj as well in his political mission. The INC is clear that the mandate in Tamil Nadu is for a secular government that is committed to protecting the Constitution in letter and spirit.”
The Congress has said that the people of Tamil Nadu have voted for a secular government and that it will not allow the “BJP and its proxies” to come to power.
“The INC is determined not to have the BJP and its proxies run the Government of Tamil Nadu in any manner. Accordingly, the Congress leadership has directed the TNCC to take a final decision on Thiru Vijay’s request, keeping in view the sentiments of the state reflected in the electoral verdict,” he added.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wrote on X, “I spoke to Thiru Vijay and congratulated him on TVK’s spectacular result. My heartfelt thanks to the Congress workers of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry for their hard work and support. I reiterate that the
What happens to the DMK–Congress alliance?
While Saravanan has warned that the decision by the Congress to ally with the TVK could impact its other allies, including Akhilesh Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav and Uddhav Thackeray, the grand old party does not seem ready or willing to have a confrontation.
Congress MP Manickam Tagore was quoted as saying by The Times of India, “The verdict has gone against the DMK government. Half the ministers in the Cabinet have lost their seats. We faced collateral damage for no fault of ours. Now, the BJP is eyeing Tamil Nadu. The question before us is clear: should we stand with those rejected by the people’s verdict, or should we unite with the force that fought against the BJP and fight to stop the BJP from ruling Tamil Nadu?”
Whether the TVK will remain part of the India bloc or leave as a result of this ‘betrayal’ only time will tell.
Rahul on Mamata’s loss
Meanwhile, Rahul has warned the opposition not to gloat over Mamata Banerjee’s loss in Bengal to the BJP. The BJP created history this week by winning 207 seats in West Bengal compared to just 80 for the TMC. Mamata also lost her own seat of Bhabanipur to the BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari.
“Some in the Congress, and others, are gloating about the TMC’s loss. They need to understand this clearly — the theft of Assam and Bengal’s mandate is a big step forward by the BJP in its mission to destroy Indian democracy. Put petty politics aside. This is not about one party or another. This is about India,” Rahul wrote on X.
Mamata Banerjee also lost her own seat of Bhabanipur to the BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari. PTI
Rahul also claimed that the BJP has ‘stolen’ the elections in Assam and West Bengal with the support of the Election Commission.
“Assam and Bengal are clear cases of the election being stolen by the BJP with the support of the EC. We agree with Mamata ji. More than 100 seats were stolen in Bengal,” Rahul added. Mamata has claimed that the BJP ‘looted’ 100 seats in West Bengal and vowed not to resign as Chief Minister.
However, others in the India alliance — of which the TMC was a founding member — have remained mum. Rahul, interestingly, prior to the election had decried Mamata as ‘corrupt’ and blamed her for giving the BJP a ‘foothold’ in West Bengal. “The TMC has broken all records of corruption in Bengal… The people of Bengal are stuck between the hatred-spreading BJP and anti-people TMC,” he was quoted as saying by
The Bengal Congress is anyway at odds with the TMC, which itself broke away from the party in the state. Mamata, famously, was a Congress youth worker who honed her political skills in Kalighat and decided to form her own party in 1998. She came to power in 2011.
However, according to the newspaper, the two parties have worked together at the national level recently — particularly in Parliament when they both opposed the 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill. The Congress was among the parties offering Trinamool support when it submitted notices to impeach Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar ahead of the West Bengal polls.
The India bloc and the larger picture
The Left occupies a uniquely contradictory space within the India bloc. It opposes the All India Trinamool Congress in West Bengal and the Congress in Kerala, while aligning with both against the Bharatiya Janata Party at the national level. This reflects the unique nature of Indian politics, where rivalries in the states can often override a national coalition. However, recent results have left the Left largely marginalised on the national stage.
The results in Bihar last year delivered a massive mandate for the NDA with 202 seats, and the BJP emerged as the single largest party for the first time. Meanwhile, the Rashtriya Janata Dal, led by Tejashwi Yadav, which got just 25 seats, remains on the back foot. To make matters worse for the India bloc, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has now sounded the Uttar Pradesh bugle in his Bengal victory speech. The state remains key to the BJP maintaining its dominance at the Centre.
Tejashwi Yadav's RJD got just 25 seats in the Bihar elections last year. File image/PTI
As per News18, Modi in his victory speech to workers has already gone after the Samajwadi Party, led by Akhilesh Yadav, over the women’s reservation Bill, saying that it failed to remove the “stain” of being anti-women. Modi added that the party “crushed the dreams” of Ram Manohar Lohia and that women in the state and across India “will never forget”. The question now is whether Akhilesh will ally with Rahul, given the Congress’ dismal show in the recently held Assembly polls.
The bottom line is this: despite Rahul’s call for the opposition to rally behind Mamata and his repeated claims of ‘vote chori’, the opposition bloc looks to be in disarray as usual. And unity for the 2029 polls, if that is the holy grail, is a long shot.
FAQs
1. Why did Congress break ties with DMK in Tamil Nadu?
Congress chose to support Vijay’s TVK after it emerged as the single largest party, aiming to back a “secular government” and prevent the BJP or its allies from gaining power.
2. What does this mean for the India bloc?
It highlights internal contradictions, where parties are allies nationally but rivals in states, raising doubts about long-term unity.
3. Will the DMK–Congress alliance be permanently affected?
It is unclear. While tensions are high, both parties may still cooperate nationally depending on political compulsions ahead of future elections.
With inputs from agencies
