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Vaiko said the party would support the ruling TVK in the upcoming Assembly bypolls and also ally with Vijay’s party in the civic body elections whenever they are held.
Explaining the decision to leave the DMK-led alliance, the veteran leader said the MDMK had remained with the front for years to prevent the BJP from gaining a foothold in Tamil Nadu. (Photo: IANS)
Actor-turned-politician and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has gained another ally, with the Vaiko-led Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) snapping ties with its long-time partner, the DMK.
Announcing the decision, MDMK General Secretary Vaiko said the party would support the ruling TVK in the upcoming Assembly bypolls and also ally with Vijay’s party in the civic body elections whenever they are held.
“If the state government does well, we will appreciate it, and in case of mistakes, we will point them out,” Vaiko said.
Explaining the decision to leave the DMK-led alliance, the veteran leader said the MDMK had remained with the front for years to prevent the BJP from gaining a foothold in Tamil Nadu.
The MDMK said the AIADMK had won a mere 47 seats in the April 23 Assembly polls by aligning with “Hindutva communal forces.” By attempting to form an AIADMK government, vested interests had rendered completely meaningless the DMK’s proclamation that the Secular Progressive Alliance was an “ideological alliance.” Such a move to install an AIADMK-led regime—one that had a pre-poll tie-up with “Hindutva communal forces”—made the DMK’s avowed secular-ideology-based alliance slogan meaningless, the MDMK asserted.
Vaiko also alleged that ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections, the MDMK was pressured to contest on the DMK’s Rising Sun symbol, while other alliance partners—including the VCK, IUML and the Left parties—were not subjected to the same condition.
“Was this healthy politics? Why should there be compulsion?” Vaiko asked.
How Will MDMK Help TVK?
The political significance of the alliance extends beyond optics. Chief Minister Joseph Vijay retained the Perambur Assembly constituency after the 2026 elections and vacated the Tiruchirappalli-East seat, necessitating a bypoll. In addition, the resignation of five AIADMK rebel MLAs has triggered by-elections in five more constituencies, taking the total number of bypolls to six.
In the 2026 Assembly elections, two MDMK leaders—R. Senthil Selvan from Sirkazhi and T.M. Rajendran from Kadayanallur—were elected on the DMK’s Rising Sun symbol.
Vaiko said Vijay had assured him that he would personally campaign in the bypolls if the two MDMK MLAs resigned from the Assembly.
However, the MDMK appears divided over the move.
Senthil Selvan skipped the party’s high-level committee meeting despite receiving a special invitation. Later, he told the media that he was no longer with the MDMK and had joined the DMK.
Rajendran also stayed away from the party’s general council meeting but sent a message saying he continued to remain with the MDMK and would function in the Assembly as its representative. At the same time, he indicated that his future course of action would depend on how he was treated during Assembly proceedings.
Responding to allegations of horse-trading, Vaiko, without naming the DMK, questioned whether persuading Senthil Selvan to switch sides did not itself amount to horse-trading.
Tamil Nadu Numbers Game
The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly has 234 elected members, with 118 seats required for a simple majority.
The ruling TVK currently has 107 MLAs, excluding the vacated Tiruchirappalli-East seat. Its allies include the Congress (5 MLAs), while the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Communist Party of India have two MLAs each.
While the Congress, VCK and IUML have formally joined the TVK-led alliance, the Left parties continue to extend outside support to the Vijay government without officially severing ties with the DMK.
With six Assembly bypolls due, the ruling party has an opportunity to further strengthen its position. If TVK wins all six seats, it would significantly improve its numbers and move closer to securing a majority on its own in the 234-member House.
About the Author
Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Chief Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter –twitter.com/saurabhkverma19
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