Congress Ends Alliance With DMK, Extends Support to Vijay’s TVK Government in Tamil Nadu
Congress ended its alliance with DMK and extended support to Vijay-led TVK to form the Tamil Nadu government after TVK secured 108 seats in the Assembly election.
Chennai: The Congress party, a long-time ally of the DMK, on Wednesday announced its support to Vijay-led TVK to form the government in Tamil Nadu and severed ties with the Dravidian major.
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The Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) and the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) decided to extend full support to the TVK to form the government, according to AICC Tamil Nadu in-charge Girish Chodankar.
The announcement came after Vijay formally requested the Congress party to extend support for forming a government in Tamil Nadu.
Congress workers burst firecrackers at the party’s state headquarters Satyamurthi Bhavan in Chennai to welcome the announcement.
Congress Says People Gave Mandate for Secular and Progressive Government
In a statement, Girish Chodankar said the people of Tamil Nadu, especially the youth, delivered a “very clear, strong and overwhelming verdict” for a secular, progressive and welfarist government based on constitutional principles.
According to the statement, the people chose the TVK led by Vijay to form the next government.
Chodankar said:
“The Indian National Congress stands for, and is the founding political party for, secular, progressive and welfarist politics in India. It is our constitutional duty to respect, uphold and help fulfil this mandate of the people of Tamil Nadu.”
He further said:
“Accordingly, the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee and the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) have decided to extend its full support to the TVK to form the government.”
Congress Sets Condition for TVK Alliance
The Congress party also placed a condition before supporting the TVK government.
According to Chodankar, the TVK must ensure that communal forces that do not believe in the Constitution of India are kept out of the alliance fold.
The statement added that the alliance between TVK and the Tamil Nadu Congress would strive to bring back the “glory days of Tamil Nadu” associated with iconic leader Perunthalaivar Kamaraj.
The alliance also committed itself to the social justice ideals of Periyar E. V. Ramasamy and the constitutional principles of B. R. Ambedkar.
Congress Says Alliance Will Continue for Future Elections
Chodankar stated that the alliance between the TVK and Congress was based on “mutual respect, appropriate share, and shared responsibility.”
He said:
“This alliance – founded on mutual respect, appropriate share, and shared responsibility between the two parties is not only for the formation of this government, but also for future elections to the local body organisations, the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.”
The statement also said Vijay and Rahul Gandhi jointly pledged to respect the mandate of the people of Tamil Nadu and fulfil the dreams and promises made to the people, especially the youth.
Congress Leaders Meet Vijay at TVK Office in Panaiyur
AICC In-charge for Tamil Nadu Girish Chodankar, TNCC President K Selvaperunthagai, Legislative Party leader S Rajesh Kumar, and party office-bearer Praveen Chakravarthy met Vijay at the TVK party office in Panaiyur, Chennai.
The Congress delegation handed over a letter of support to form the government. TVK leaders, including K Sengottaiyan, were present during the meeting.
DMK Calls Congress Move ‘Backstabbing’
The DMK termed the Congress decision to sever ties and support TVK as “backstabbing.”
The Congress and DMK have shared a long political relationship. The two parties first allied in 1971 when Assembly and Lok Sabha elections were held together.
The DMK was also part of the UPA governments from 2004 to 2013. Congress revived its alliance with the DMK again in 2016.
Tamil Nadu Election Results
According to data available on the Election Commission of India website:
- Vijay-led TVK won 108 seats in its maiden electoral debut
- The DMK led by M. K. Stalin secured 59 seats
- The AIADMK won 47 seats
- PMK won 4 seats
- BJP and AMMK won 1 seat each
- IUML, CPI, CPI(M), and VCK secured 2 seats each
- DMDK won 1 seat
Votes were counted on May 4 and the final tally was announced on Tuesday.
The Congress party has officially ended its alliance with the DMK and extended support to Vijay-led TVK to form the government in Tamil Nadu following TVK’s victory with 108 seats. The Congress said the alliance would continue for future elections as well, while also asking TVK to keep communal forces out of the alliance. The DMK described the move as “backstabbing,” and political developments in Tamil Nadu continue after the election results announced following counting on May 4.
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