Defending its stand, Congress said its decision was guided by the larger goal of countering the BJP, even as the DMK accused it of ignoring alliance loyalty and political realities.
BY PC Bureau
May 6, 2026: A fresh political storm has erupted within the INDIA bloc after the Tamil Nadu Assembly election results, with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) openly accusing its ally, the Indian National Congress, of betrayal for backing actor-turned-politician Vijay and his party, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). The sharp exchange has exposed growing fault lines within the विपक्ष alliance at a critical political moment.
DMK’s Sharp Criticism
DMK joint secretary and spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai termed the Congress’s decision to support TVK a “foolhardy” move aimed at “satisfying a few egos,” suggesting it ignored both political logic and alliance loyalty.
Reflecting on past ties, Annadurai underscored the DMK’s role in strengthening Congress electorally. He recalled that in 2016, Congress secured a significant number of seats despite contesting fewer constituencies. He also pointed to a time when Rahul Gandhi faced sustained attacks from BJP-RSS circles, noting that DMK leader M. K. Stalin had boldly projected him as a prime ministerial candidate — a move he said helped elevate Gandhi’s political standing. According to Annadurai, DMK’s organisational strength and grassroots network played a crucial role in Congress’s electoral gains.
Turning to the current numbers, he highlighted that TVK still needs additional seats to form a government. “The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), with 47 seats, is willing to offer unconditional support. If you are Vijay, whom would you listen to — someone with five seats or someone with 47?” he asked, warning that Congress may soon regret its decision.
VIDEO | Chennai: DMK spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai (@saravofcl) says, “Congress party has decided to ally with TVK, pledging the support of its five MLAs to the party. I think they have backstabbed not us, but the people of Tamil Nadu. They have betrayed the mandate given by… pic.twitter.com/eNEKRhbkKz
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 6, 2026
‘Backstabbers’ Remark and Wider Warning
Escalating the rhetoric, Annadurai said, “We wish Vijay well when he takes oath on May 7. But Congress’s support to TVK is why we called it backstabbing. Their justification — that they want to keep the BJP and RSS at bay — is not convincing.”
He cautioned that the move could reverberate across opposition ranks nationwide. Questioning Congress’s reliability, he asked what message such actions would send to leaders like Akhilesh Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav, and Uddhav Thackeray. “If Congress can act against an ally within a day of the results, what trust can others place in it?” he said, adding that the DMK had “never failed” the Congress.
The remarks followed an earlier cryptic post by a DMK functionary that simply read: “The backstabbers,” widely interpreted as a swipe at the Congress.
READ: Post-Poll Anarchy in Bengal: Bulldozer Assault on TMC Office
Congress’s Defence
Responding to the criticism, Congress MP Manickam Tagore defended the party’s stance while maintaining a measured tone. He framed the decision within the larger political contest against the BJP.
“The verdict has gone against the DMK government, with several ministers losing their seats. We suffered collateral damage despite no fault of ours,” he said. “With the BJP now eyeing Tamil Nadu, the question is whether we stand with those rejected by the electorate or align with forces that opposed the BJP and continue that fight.”
Political Context
The row follows the striking electoral debut of Vijay, whose TVK emerged as the single largest party with 108 seats in the 234-member Assembly, just short of a majority. The outcome has disrupted the long-standing dominance of both the DMK and the AIADMK, triggering intense coalition manoeuvring.
With the DMK out of power and weakened, Congress’s decision to support TVK — despite its limited numbers — has sparked speculation of a broader political realignment in Tamil Nadu. Beyond the state, the episode has also raised serious questions about cohesion, trust, and strategic clarity within the INDIA bloc at the national level.
