The Indian National Congress has ended its long-standing electoral alliance with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in Tamil Nadu, choosing instead to support actor Vijay's new party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), in future elections, including the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls. The decision, confirmed by senior Congress leaders, comes after failed seat-sharing negotiations following the 2026 Assembly elections and growing resentment over the treatment of local Congress functionaries by DMK cadres.

Although the two parties had reunited after a brief split before the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, tensions resurfaced during the 2026 negotiations, with DMK leadership reportedly unwilling to accommodate Congress demands. Sources said M.K. Stalin, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, was displeased that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi did not personally engage during talks or share public platforms during the campaign, despite earlier claims of close ties. A proposal for winning Congress candidates to meet Stalin and express gratitude was also rejected, signaling a definitive break.

While some Congress leaders expressed concern that aligning with TVK could weaken anti-BJP consolidation and benefit the Bharatiya Janata Party through a split in Dravidian politics, others justified the move as reflective of grassroots sentiment. One senior leader said the party could not ignore Vijay's outreach, given internal pressure and the desire for a fresh political alternative. The Congress leadership is expected to issue an official statement clarifying its position on future electoral arrangements in Tamil Nadu.

The DMK, which had sidelined the Congress in Tamil Nadu politics since 1967, had been the primary non-BJP pole in the state alongside the Congress in coalition eras. With the emergence of TVK, the state's political格局 is shifting from bipolar dominance to a multi-cornered contest. The Election Commission has not yet received formal notifications of any new coalition, but party sources indicate that Congress will contest the next Lok Sabha elections in alliance with TVK.

The Congress's state unit is scheduled to convene next week to finalize its strategic roadmap, while the DMK has refrained from public comment. The Election Commission will announce the schedule for the next Rajya Sabha polls within the month, which will serve as the first electoral test of the new alignment.