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Chennai: As alliance negotiations for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections intensify, the Indian National Congress has significantly raised the stakes for its long-time partner, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). In a bold strategic shift, the Congress is not only pushing for a larger share of seats but has, for the first time, formally demanded a share in the state cabinet—including the Deputy Chief Minister post and Rajya Sabha nominations—threatening to explore an alliance with actor-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) if its terms are not met.
Internal Congress Divide: DMK Continuity vs. TVK Gambit
A clear division has emerged within the state Congress. One faction, led by leaders like P. Chidambaram and others advocates sticking with the DMK, banking on its likely return to power. However, on the other side, leaders like MP Manickam Tagore, MP argues that aligning with the fledgling TVK could be more advantageous. They believe TVK could secure around 20% of the vote share, helping Congress expand beyond its current 4%, consolidate anti-incumbency votes, and counter the BJP. Crucially, this group claims TVK is prepared to offer a more generous seat-sharing deal and guaranteed power-sharing in government.
Pressure Tactics and the "Vijay Meeting" Controversy
The Congress’s leverage has been amplified by recent events. The December 5 meeting between Congress data analytics chief Praveen Chakravarty and Vijay sparked major friction within the DMK alliance. Chakravarty’s subsequent social media post comparing Tamil Nadu’s debt to Uttar Pradesh’s was labelled “provocative and incorrect” by Chidambaram and caused outrage among DMK leaders, who saw it as a betrayal.
Now, figures like Manickam Tagore are openly demanding “not only power but power-sharing,” directly challenging the DMK’s traditional stance of running a government solely with its own ministers. The Congress, which won 18 out of 25 seats it contested in 2021, is now demanding 40 to 50 seats and a firm commitment on cabinet positions.
DMK's Delayed Response and Alliance Ripples
The DMK, which has yet to form its seat-sharing negotiation committee (a move expected only after Pongal), is facing coordinated pressure. The Congress is explicitly suggesting the DMK either contest fewer seats to facilitate a coalition government or, even if it wins a majority, adopt the “Andhra Pradesh model” of including allies in the cabinet.
This pressure is resonating with other allies. The Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) has also begun questioning why alliance partners are excluded from administration. DMK functionaries, while reaffirming Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s support for the alliance, express concern over attempts to “weaken the DMK at the government level” and hope for intervention from Rahul Gandhi, who has publicly called Stalin his “elder brother.”
The New Political Calculus
Previously, the Congress had limited options, with the AIADMK allied with the BJP. The emergence of the TVK has altered the equation, providing the Congress with a credible alternative and bargaining chip. By playing hardball—through direct demands, indirect signals like joint appearances with TVK members, and leveraging its national connection—the Congress has decisively shifted the dynamics of the pre-poll negotiations, setting the stage for a complex and high-stakes bargaining period ahead of the elections.
