MDMK cuts ties with DMK alliance, pledges support to TVK government

Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) has officially cut ties with the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance. A formal decision to withdraw from the coalition was unanimously adopted at the party’s 32nd General Council meeting held in Chennai on Saturday, June 27, 2026.

After the meeting, MDMK General Secretary Vaiko announced that the party will increase its support to the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government and will refrain from participating in the upcoming by-elections to support the ruling party.

The general assembly passed a total of 23 resolutions, with the main resolution focusing on exiting the DMK alliance. According to the initial verdict, the decision was due to post-election developments in which arrangements were allegedly made for the AIADMK, which won only 47 seats in alliance with the BJP, to come to power. In this environment, the majority of party executives expressed their reluctance to continue the partnership and formalized the exit. “Everyone who spoke at the general assembly advocated leaving the DMK alliance,” Vaiko said, adding that the final decision was taken unanimously.

Reflecting on their nine-year-old steadfast commitment to the DMK alliance, Mr. Vaiko noted that leaders from various parties, including the CPI(M) and IUML, had exposed backroom arrangements to help the AIADMK form the government. “If this had happened, there could not have been a greater ‘political fraud’ than this,” Mr. Vaiko said.

What was significant was that both MDMK MLAs R. Senthilselvan (Sirkazhi) and TM Rajendran (Kadayanallur) were conspicuously absent from the high-level meeting. When asked about their absence, Mr. Vaiko clarified that R. Senthilselvan had already stated that he had joined the DMK, while Kadayanallur MLA TM Rajendran had stated that he would continue to remain in the party.

Mr. Vaiko also disclosed that during his meeting with Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, the CM promised to personally campaign for the MDMK if the two MLAs resign to trigger by-elections. However, Mr. Vaiko stated that the MLAs refused to resign.

Explaining the party’s move towards TVK, Mr. Vaiko said the MDMK chose to support the Prime Minister Vijay government because it operates free of “corruption and commission” and strictly adheres to the core principles of socio-political leader CN Annadurai.

Mr. Vaiko, who left the DMK alliance, stated that they will extend their support to the TVK government. He stated that they will not compete in the by-elections, they will support TVK instead, and their next actions will be towards establishing friendship with TVK in local elections.

It was noteworthy that the party’s general secretary, Durai Vaiko, did not attend the meeting on Saturday. Mr. Vaiko explained that Durai Vaiko had to travel to visit a sick acquaintance.