MDMK Exits DMK Alliance, Vaiko Announces Support For TVK In By-elections And Local Body Polls
Vaiko confirmed MDMK's exit from the DMK-led alliance and reiterated support for TVK in the by-elections, while praising the party for being free of corruption.
Published : June 27, 2026 at 1:47 PM IST
Chennai: Vaiko led Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) on Saturday announced its withdrawal from DMK alliance, in what is being viewed as a major political development in Tamil Nadu.
MDMK chief Vaiko said that his party has decided to extend support to the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) in the upcoming by-elections and local body elections, after its General Council unanimously passed a resolution to exit the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led alliance.
Addressing a press conference after the party's 32nd General Council meeting in Chennai, Vaiko said, "In the assembly by-election and local body election, MDMK will support TVK."
Vaiko said 1,466 members participated in the meeting and expressed overwhelming support for severing ties with the DMK.
"Today's meeting is special compared to all the previous general council meetings. 1,466 members participated. Every member registered their views in today's meeting. In the general council meeting, that MDMK should come out from the DMK alliance is what most members said. Unanimously in our general council meeting, we took the decision to get away from the DMK alliance," Vaiko said.
He further alleged that the DMK indulged in political manoeuvring after the Assembly election results.
"We have never criticised Stalin or the DMK party, but after the election result, to form an AIADMK government, DMK indulged in politics," he said.
Vaiko also noted that Sirkazhi MLA Senthil Selvan, who was invited to attend the meeting, informed the party that he had already joined the DMK.
"Kadayanallur assembly constituency MLA TM Rajendran didn't participate in today's meeting, but he gave a message that he still continues as MDMK, and he will serve as an MDMK MLA. He has also registered that he is not going to resign from our Party," he added.
Speaking separately to reporters, Vaiko confirmed MDMK's exit from the DMK-led alliance and reiterated support for TVK in the by-elections, while praising the party for being free of corruption.
"We are leaving the alliance headed by DMK. In the ensuing by-elections, we will extend our support to TVK. I appreciate their government. They have eradicated commission and corruption, the two evils of democracy. They are free from those allegations. I appreciate and congratulate the Chief Minister Vijay on this point," he said.
Vaiko also clarified that MDMK itself would not contest the by-elections.
"I met him (Vijay). We discussed several matters. We are not going to contest the by-election. TVK will contest. We will extend our support. If they invite me, I will go for campaigning," he said.
An official resolution announcing the same was passed at MDMK's General Council meeting today. The MDMK had remained part of the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance for the past nine years.
On Friday, MDMK General Secretary Vaiko said he felt that his party was treated "unfairly" in the alliance.
The resoultion passed on Saturday says that the MDMK participated in the Secular Progressive Alliance "based on principle, aiming to prevent communal political forces from gaining a foothold in Tamil Nadu and to counter challenges seeking to undermine the fundamental ideological tenets of the Dravidian movement."
It further said that during the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, "even though attempts were made within the alliance to dilute the MDMK's distinct identity and its 32-year history of activism for the people of Tamil Nadu, we remained steadfast in our decision and contested the election."
The resolution said that Vaiko had firmly predicted in the media on May 1, three days before the election result, that the people of Tamil Nadu had extended overwhelming support to Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK).
"Everyone was shocked to learn that the behind-the-scenes political dealings that followed the election results ran counter to the mandate given by the people," the resolution added.
It said that it was an "open secret that arrangements were being made to install the AIADMK—which had won only 47 seats—in power by forging an alliance with Hindutva communal forces."
"Consequently, the declarations regarding the Secular Progressive Alliance and its ideology were rendered meaningless by certain vested interests. Against this backdrop, party functionaries and cadres have expressed the view that the MDMK should no longer continue in the DMK-led alliance," it said.
"Therefore, the Party General Council has decided to withdraw from the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance. This General Council also resolves that the party will take appropriate decisions regarding alliances when the elections approach," the resolution added.
In the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, the results of which were announced on May 4, Actor-politician Vijay led TVK had a blockbuster debut, winning 108 of the 234 seats, emerging as the single largest party. The election recorded a voter turnout of 85.1 per cent.
The DMK secured 59 seats, followed by the AIADMK with 47. Other parties that won seats included the Congress (5), Pattali Makkal Katchi (4), CPI (2), CPI(M) (2), IUML (2), VCK (2), DMDK (1), AMMK (1) and the BJP (1). The outcome marked the end of nearly six decades of dominance by the two principal Dravidian parties in Tamil Nadu politics.
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