Vaiko’s MDMK Walks Out of DMK Alliance After Nine Years, Extends Support to Vijay’s TVK
Mumbai: In a major political development in Tamil Nadu, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), led by veteran leader Vaiko, on Saturday formally announced its exit from the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA), ending nearly nine years of association with the ruling party.
The decision was taken unanimously at the party’s 32nd General Council meeting held in Chennai, where MDMK leaders passed 23 resolutions, including one to withdraw from the alliance. The meeting was chaired by the party’s presidium chairman, Auditor A. Arjunaraj, and attended by Vaiko, deputy general secretaries, district secretaries and other senior functionaries.
Alliance Lost Its Ideological Foundation
In its resolution, the MDMK said it had aligned with the DMK since 2017 to prevent communal forces from gaining ground in Tamil Nadu and to uphold the principles of the Dravidian movement.
However, the party said political developments following the 2026 Assembly elections had shaken the ideological basis of the alliance. It specifically referred to reports suggesting that the DMK was prepared to support the AIADMK in forming the government despite the latter securing only 47 Assembly seats.
The resolution stated that such developments had convinced party cadres and office-bearers that the MDMK should no longer remain in the DMK-led alliance. It added that the party would take an appropriate decision regarding future electoral alliances once elections are officially announced.
Vaiko Calls Reported DMK Move a ‘Major Political Fraud’
Addressing reporters after the meeting, Vaiko said nearly every speaker during the General Council session had demanded an immediate exit from the DMK alliance.
Commenting on reports that the DMK was willing to back an AIADMK-led government to prevent actor-turned-politician Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s TVK from coming to power, Vaiko said that if the reports were true, they would amount to a “major political fraud.”
He questioned how such a move could be justified given the decades-long political rivalry between the DMK and AIADMK.
MDMK Announces Support for TVK
Going beyond the official resolution, Vaiko announced that the MDMK would support the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) in upcoming Assembly by-elections and would also seek a friendly understanding with the party during local body elections.
Explaining the decision, Vaiko praised the TVK government, saying it had reduced corruption and commission practices, remained committed to protecting reservation and social justice, and continued to uphold Tamil Nadu’s two-language policy while opposing the Centre’s three-language policy.
MLA Defection Sparks Fresh Political Row
Vaiko also revealed that Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay had suggested that if MDMK’s two MLAs resigned, he would personally campaign for them in the ensuing by-elections.
He disclosed that Sirkazhi MLA R. Senthil Selvan had decided to remain with the DMK, while Kadayanallur MLA M. Rajendran had assured him that he would continue with the MDMK despite retaining his Assembly membership. Both MLAs had been elected in the 2026 Assembly polls on the DMK’s ‘Rising Sun’ symbol.
Rejecting allegations that the TVK had indulged in “horse trading,” Vaiko instead accused the DMK of engineering the defection.
“Which party is doing horse trading? They have taken away one MLA of MDMK. Is this horse trading or something else?” he asked.
When questioned whether voters would object if MDMK legislators resigned to seek a fresh mandate, Vaiko expressed confidence that the public would understand the party’s position.
The MDMK’s exit marks a significant realignment in Tamil Nadu politics and signals a possible new political equation with the Vijay-led TVK ahead of future electoral contests.
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