Published May 01, 2026 | 5:01 PM ⚊ Updated May 01, 2026 | 5:01 PM
Despite contesting the polls together, a section of Congress leaders believes that they were given a raw deal by the DMK.
No matter what exit polls indicate, nobody can claim to know for sure who the people of Tamil Nadu have voted for until votes are counted on 4 May.
But what we know for sure is that the animosity between DMK and Congress in Tamil Nadu, despite being allies, has only become worse this election. So much so that office bearers of the Congress unit in Tamil Nadu have no qualms in admitting that they voted for actor-turned-politician Vijay’s TVK this poll season. And, the DMK knows.
It is no secret that a big section of the Tamil Nadu Congress wanted to break away from the DMK before the election and find better suited allies. For years now, Tamil Nadu Congress leaders have been accusing the DMK of being a disrespectful and bullying alliance partner.
Barely weeks before the Tamil Nadu assembly elections, this section of Congress had almost achieved its goal of breaking away from the DMK over seat sharing row but the alliance was salvaged in the nick of time with AICC’s intervention, namely Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and P Chidambaram much to the chagrin of Rahul Gandhi. The whole row has upset MK Stalin’s equation with Rahul Gandhi so much that the two leaders didn’t campaign together in Tamil Nadu. Instead, Stalin campaigned with Mallikarjun Kharge, Tejashvi Yadav and even Arvind Kejriwal – the latter’s participation has irked the Congress.
Also Read: Souring of brotherly ties in DMK-Congress alliance is for all to see
A grudging section of Congress leaders were once again forced to contest polls with DMK. It seems they have revolted in the only way they can, effectively, in an election — by voting for a rival party. In one such seat, given to another prominent ally of the DMK-led front, a Congress unit office bearer has cast their vote to the TVK instead of their alliance candidate. Unwilling to vote for AIADMK or NOTA, the leader chose TVK instead of their own alliance candidate. The same isn’t true in seats where the Congress has fielded its own candidate.
In an election where the entry of TVK has upset political equations and every ally was expected to pull their weight and transfer votes to the alliance candidates, Congress’ “revolt” has enraged the DMK. Absolutely convinced that Congress cannot grow in Tamil Nadu as long as it is in alliance with the DMK, several Congress leaders in Tamil Nadu are already contemplating joining other political outfits, including TVK, if Vijay sustains his political momentum.
Whatever the results on 4 May maybe, it is now undeniable that the bridge between Congress and DMK in Tamil Nadu hasn’t just broken, it has been burnt. The DMK is now biding time to respond in kind. After all, the DMK may or may not need the Congress in Tamil Nadu but Congress definitely needs DMK in the parliament as things stand today.
