BackPOLITICS
Congress backs TVK after Tamil Nadu polls; DMK calls it betrayal
The Congress ditched the DMK to back Tamil actor Vijay's TVK, conditioning support on excluding communal forces. Negotiations involved high-level deliberations, with Kharge and Chidambaram eventually conceding a seat-based arrangement, and the move is framed as a bid to curb BJP influence while shaping future elections.
Why It Matters
The shift reshapes Tamil Nadu's political landscape and affects national-level opposition dynamics, particularly ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, as Congress seeks to strengthen its organisational footing in the state.
Timeline
7 Events
First major test anticipated: 2029 Lok Sabha elections
2029
The article notes that the 2029 Lok Sabha elections will be the first major test for the Rahul-Vijay alliance, with the DMK having swept Tamil Nadu and Puducherry previously and likely to push back against the Congress.
TVK seat math: 108 seats held; alliance adds five seats toward majority
May 6, 2026
In the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, the TVK holds 108 of 234 seats and would need 10 more MLAs for a majority; the alliance with the Congress adds five seats.
Gandhi calls Vijay on results day; pledges Congress support
May 6, 2026
On the results day, Rahul Gandhi phoned Vijay to congratulate him and assured that the Congress stood with the TVK.
Announcement to back TVK made from Chennai to keep options open in Delhi
May 6, 2026
To maintain national flexibility, the Congress announced its backing of TVK from Chennai, signaling a strategic move to avoid alienating the public mandate and to counter BJP influence.
Eleventh-hour shift: Kharge and Chidambaram adopt flexible stance; 28 Assembly seats and 1 Rajya Sabha seat agreed
May 6, 2026
In the final phase of negotiations, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader P Chidambaram moved to a more flexible stance, leading to an agreement to back TVK with 28 Assembly seats and one Rajya Sabha seat.
Pre-results negotiations: Congress seeks seats and government role; TVK offers more seats
April 2026
During negotiations ahead of the results, the Congress pressed for around 40 Assembly seats and ministerial berths in the next DMK-led government, while the DMK rejected these demands. TVK offered around 60 seats and a government role as a concession.
Rahul Gandhi invited Vijay for a meeting in 2009
2009
The article notes that Rahul Gandhi had invited Vijay for a meeting back in 2009, indicating early proximity between the Congress and Vijay's circle.