MDMK Ends Nine-Year Alliance with DMK in Tamil Nadu Political Realignment

In a significant political development in Tamil Nadu, the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) has formally ended its nine-year alliance with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). The decision was taken at the party's general council meeting on Wednesday, though the MDMK stopped short of officially announcing an alliance with the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)-led front.

The resolutions passed at the meeting welcomed Chief Minister Joseph Vijay's government and urged it to remain committed to key poll promises, including a corruption-free administration and protecting the state's rights on issues such as the Mekedatu dam project. However, the resolutions made no explicit mention of joining the TVK alliance, even as political signals have pointed in that direction in recent weeks.

The MDMK justified its exit by alleging that "attempts were made to weaken the MDMK" and that there was "a secret plan to enable the AIADMK to form the government," making it impossible for the party to continue in the alliance. The DMK denied the charges. DMK spokesperson Syed Hafeezullah said, "It was the DMK that enabled the MDMK to get representation in the assembly and the parliament." He added that the elevation of Vaiko's son, Durai Vaiko, in the MDMK had led to its weakening, as it contradicted Vaiko's own campaign against dynastic politics.

The move comes as a blow to the DMK, but it is also tempered by internal divisions within the MDMK. The party's two MLAs, elected in the 2026 Assembly election on the DMK's Rising Sun symbol, boycotted the general council meeting and indicated they would remain with the DMK. Their decision means that even if the MDMK formally aligns with the TVK, the ruling party's legislative strength will not immediately increase, nor will vacancies arise to trigger by-elections.

Signs of the MDMK's exit had emerged earlier when the party abstained during the TVK government's trust vote. This was followed by meetings between MDMK chief Vaiko, his son and MP Durai Vaiko, Chief Minister Vijay, and senior TVK leaders.

With the MDMK's departure, the Congress, VCK, IUML, and MDMK are now aligned with the ruling TVK. The Congress has become a coalition partner in the government with two ministers, while the VCK and IUML have one minister each. The CPI and CPM continue to extend outside support to the minority TVK government.

The development also comes amid growing voices within the DMK for the party to contest future elections independently. DMK MP Kanimozhi first floated the idea, later echoed by former Union minister and DMK MP A. Raja.

Vaiko was once regarded as the political protege of former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi but was expelled from the DMK in 1993 amid his soaring popularity and the perception that he could challenge Karunanidhi's son, MK Stalin. His love-hate relationship with the DMK has seen him in and out of the alliance. He is now steering the MDMK out of the DMK alliance once again.