Congress Backs Vijay's TVK to Form Tamil Nadu Government, DMK Calls It Betrayal

The Congress party has thrown its support behind actor-turned-politician Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), enabling the new party to muster 120 MLAs' backing and form the government in Tamil Nadu, with Vijay set to be sworn in as chief minister on Sunday. The support from the Congress's five MLAs, elected under the DMK-led alliance, triggered an immediate split between the two parties, with the DMK denouncing the decision as a 'betrayal' and severing ties.

P Chidambaram, senior Congress leader and former Union minister, stated that despite the fallout, he expects the DMK to remain part of the national Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc. Speaking to NDTV, Chidambaram emphasized that DMK chief MK Stalin has not made any adverse remarks about the INDIA bloc, citing precedents in Kerala and West Bengal where ideologically opposed parties continue to coexist within the coalition at the national level.

Chidambaram also expressed hope that TVK could be persuaded to join the INDIA bloc, even as the DMK moved to distance itself physically in Parliament, with MP Kanimozhi requesting a change in seating arrangement. The DMK, which won 59 seats, remains the bloc's fourth-largest constituent with 22 MPs, while Congress won five seats in the state.

MK Stalin criticized the Congress for not consulting him before backing Vijay, contrasting it with outreach to other alliance partners. The Left parties, IUML, and VCK joined the post-poll alliance with TVK after negotiations. The court will resume hearing on Tuesday to address pending legal challenges to the new government's formation.