DMK faces a challenge as allies set to join TVK government

While most of its pre-election allies now support the TVK government, the DMK, which has headed the Secular Progressive Alliance since 2017, is now almost friendless in politics. The Dravidian party is now left with only the MDMK and Manithaneya Makkal Katchi, whose candidates are contesting on the Rising Sun symbol. Moreover, its new ally, DMDK, did not change its loyalty.

While the Congress abandoned the DMK immediately after the Assembly elections and joined Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s Cabinet on Thursday, May 21, 2026, IUML and VCK are set to join the Ministry on Friday, signaling the end of their association with the DMK.

But the CPI and CPI(M), which provide external support to the government, are likely to have some sort of working relationship with the DMK in Parliament on issues such as states’ rights and secularism.

“We have already said that we will extend issue-based support to DMK,” said CPI(M) State Secretary P. Shanmugam.

CPI General Secretary M. Veerapandian justified it by saying that external support to TVK, the only major party, was aimed at obstructing Presidential Power. “We must respect the people’s decision. Our support will continue for 5 years. It is our expectation that the government will continue the practices that have become a model for the country,” he said.

The communists were left with little option when the proposal to form an AIADMK-led government with the support of the DMK emerged.

It was this proposal that changed the course of state politics as the communists opposed the BJP, with whom the AIADMK was fighting in the elections.

The position of the left is to not participate in any government unless it is in a position to influence its policies.

It is learned that Mr. Vijay invited VCK president Thol. Thirumavalavan will join the Cabinet, offering portfolios of his choice and the third spot in the Cabinet so he can “guide the government”. Mr. Thirumavalavan was initially inclined to accept the offer, but later came out in favor of appointing Mr. Vanni Arasu.

The DMK, once seen as the defender of minorities and long dependent on their support, now faces a different political situation with its allies shifting base.

According to DMK’s internal assessment, Christians overwhelmingly voted for TVK, while Scheduled Caste voters also gravitated towards the new party. DMK leaders believe that these two factors contributed to party president MK Stalin’s defeat in Kolathur constituency.

However, falling out of power and facing a political crisis, as happened during the state of emergency, is nothing new for the DMK. But the party needs to reconnect with Generation Z, who are heavily reliant on social media and the internet for information. It should also reflect how Mr. Vijay, whose charisma was built through cinema, was able to overcome long-standing ideological affiliations.