Congress Hits Back at DMK Over "Never Trust" Remark

New Delhi witnessed a sharp escalation in the ongoing rift between the Congress and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam following the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election results. Congress MP Manickam Tagore strongly criticized DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin’s remarks, describing them as “unacceptable.” Tagore highlighted that the Congress had stood by the DMK during challenging times, including when the party faced a minority government. The tensions emerged after actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam secured the single-largest number of seats and formed the government with support from the Congress and other former DMK allies.

Tagore defended the Congress decision to break away from the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance and back Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam. He argued that the move was essential to prevent the Bharatiya Janata Party from gaining a foothold in Tamil Nadu, where the saffron party has traditionally struggled. The Congress leader accused the DMK of considering an understanding with the BJP and AIADMK, which he said went against secular principles. Tagore emphasized that any such alignment with the BJP would not be tolerated by the Congress party.

Udhayanidhi Stalin had earlier declared that the DMK would “never trust the Congress again,” accusing its leaders of lacking basic gratitude and decency. He claimed that DMK cadre support helped the Congress win seats in the election and expressed disappointment over the party’s decision to align with Vijay’s TVK without prior consultation. Stalin warned that the Congress should never be allowed near the DMK in the future, marking a bitter end to their long-standing electoral partnership.

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The 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election delivered a major upset as Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam won 108 of the 234 seats. The party required additional support to form the government and received five seats from the Congress along with eight from other allies, including the Left parties, Indian Union Muslim League, and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi. This enabled TVK leader Vijay to achieve a stunning debut victory and pass the floor test with 144 votes of confidence after political negotiations and a separate development within the AIADMK.

The DMK-Congress alliance had previously delivered success in the 2019 and 2024 Lok Sabha elections as well as the 2021 Assembly polls. However, the emergence of actor Vijay’s party disrupted the Dravidian political landscape. The DMK alliance secured 73 seats initially but ended with around 60, while the AIADMK also faced internal challenges that influenced the final outcome. The Congress had reportedly sensed a strong wave of support for Vijay even before the polls and pushed for the realignment.

The developments have triggered a significant realignment in Tamil Nadu politics. The swearing-in of the TVK government and the public exchange of accusations between the Congress and DMK signal the end of a profitable relationship that lasted several election cycles. Political observers note that the episode reflects shifting loyalties and the impact of new players challenging the dominance of established Dravidian parties in the state.

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