CHENNAI (Feb 17, 2026) — Congress MP Vijay Vasanth has rejected claims that the party’s 20-year alliance with the DMK is crumbling. Despite public friction and critical remarks from some Congress leaders, Vasanth told NDTV that the partnership remains firm ahead of the May 2026 Assembly polls.
Points of Contention
While Vasanth projected unity, several issues have tested the alliance recently:
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Power Sharing: The DMK has flatly ruled out sharing power in the next government. Congress leaders, however, argue that “governance participation” should be on the table.
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Seat Demands: In 2021, Congress won 18 of the 25 seats it contested. This time, some factions are pushing for a significantly higher allocation, a move the DMK is reportedly resisting.
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Public Spats: Congress leaders Manickam Tagore and Praveen Chakravarty recently revived talk of the “burden” of the 2G controversy and questioned the state’s ₹5,000 cash transfer scheme for women.
Strategic Resilience
Vasanth dismissed the idea that the Congress is “overestimating its strength,” citing its vast organizational presence across Tamil Nadu. He clarified that:
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Formal Talks: Seat-sharing negotiations officially begin on February 22.
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Negotiation, Not Rupture: Demands like power-sharing are matters to be discussed “across the table” rather than through the media.
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High Command Authority: Final decisions regarding the alliance—and any potential outreach to actor Vijay’s TVK party—rest solely with the AICC leadership.
What’s Next
AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal is currently in Chennai and Puducherry to finalize the party’s strategy. All eyes are now on the February 22 meeting to see if the DMK softens its stance on seat numbers to keep the national ally on board.
