The war of words intensified after DMK spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai launched a blistering attack on Congress, calling its decision “myopic” and warning it would have long-term consequences for opposition unity.
The opposition’s INDI bloc is staring at a deepening internal rupture just days after dramatic Assembly election results in Tamil Nadu reshaped the political landscape. In a sharp escalation, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has openly accused the Indian National Congress of “backstabbing” the alliance by backing actor-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) to form the next government in the state.
The standoff follows a fractured mandate in the 234-member Assembly, where TVK emerged as the single largest party with 108 seats, just 10 short of a majority, triggering intense post-poll negotiations and unexpected political realignments.
Advertisement
The war of words intensified after DMK spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai launched a blistering attack on Congress, calling its decision “myopic” and warning it would have long-term consequences for opposition unity.
Advertisement
He accused Congress of betraying trust within the alliance, saying the move has cemented a growing perception that the party is an “unstable partner” that “cannot be trusted.” The DMK leader argued that the decision undermines broader opposition efforts to challenge the BJP in the 2029 general elections.
Annadurai also questioned the rationale offered by Congress, that supporting TVK would help keep the BJP and RSS at bay, calling it unconvincing and politically damaging.
#WATCH | Chennai, Tamil Nadu: On Congress’s decision to support TVK, DMK spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai says, “… I think this is a very short-sighted, myopic stand taken by the Congress, which they will regret. The 2029 big elections are coming, where we were very confident… pic.twitter.com/3cUDQwZhXV
— ANI (@ANI) May 6, 2026
The Congress held a late-night strategy meeting led by K Selvaperunthagai, where state leaders and MLAs assessed the evolving political scenario. Sources indicated that the party unanimously agreed to extend support to TVK, tipping the balance in favour of a Vijay-led government.
At the national level, KC Venugopal confirmed that Vijay had formally sought Congress backing, with the central leadership authorising the Tamil Nadu unit to take a final call.
With Congress holding five seats, its support, along with that of smaller parties such as PMK, CPI, CPI(M), and VCK, could prove decisive in helping TVK cross the majority mark.
The 2026 assembly elections marked a watershed moment for TVK, a relatively new entrant that surged to prominence by securing 108 seats, outperforming established players in the state.
The party is now actively courting support from across political camps to cement its claim to power.
The Congress’ pivot in Tamil Nadu has sent shockwaves through the broader INDI alliance, where it remains a key partner alongside the DMK at the national level. The development has raised fresh questions about the bloc’s cohesion and its ability to present a united front in the run-up to the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
The DMK leaders warned that the Congress’ move could erode trust among other allies, including leaders like Akhilesh Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav, and Uddhav Thackeray, potentially triggering wider instability within the opposition ranks.
As government formation efforts continue in Tamil Nadu, the immediate political battle may be local, but its ripple effects are already being felt across the national opposition landscape.
Advertisement
