Tamil Nadu, Feb 16 : With the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections approaching, strains within the DMK–Congress alliance have intensified over seat allocation and participation in governance, raising concerns about unity within the INDIA bloc in the state.
For nearly two months, disagreements have simmered over the Congress party’s insistence on a defined role in government if the alliance secures another term. Although a Congress delegation met Chief Minister and DMK president M.K. Stalin on December 3 to discuss seat distribution temporarily easing tensions the issue resurfaced after a senior Congress observer publicly advocated a coalition-style arrangement in Tamil Nadu.
The delay in forming a formal DMK panel to begin alliance discussions further aggravated matters. During a January 25 meeting in Delhi, Rahul Gandhi is understood to have expressed dissatisfaction to DMK Deputy General Secretary Kanimozhi, pressing for early negotiations to prevent a last-minute scramble similar to the Bihar Assembly elections, where Congress performed below expectations.
The DMK subsequently announced that alliance talks would commence on February 22. However, Congress leaders in Tamil Nadu have continued to amplify their demands in public. MPs Manickam Tagore and Jyothimani, former MP Viswanathan, and ex-TNCC president K.S. Alagiri have argued that the party’s sustained support for the DMK should translate into a share of power.
Statements from DMK ministers Raghupathi and Rajakannappan have added to the friction at the cadre level. Even after Stalin clarified on February 11 that power-sharing is not part of Tamil Nadu’s political tradition, leaders from both sides continued exchanging pointed remarks, including on social media platforms.
Congress leaders contend that despite contributing to alliance victories over the decades, the party has remained outside the ruling structure in the state since 1967. They point to past seat tallies 61 in 1984, 60 in 1991, and 34 in 2006 as well as their 2021 performance, when the party won 18 of 25 contested seats, achieving a strong strike rate.
Sources indicate that Congress is now aiming for around 45 constituencies and greater representation for younger leaders, cautioning that prolonged dissatisfaction could weaken grassroots mobilisation. The DMK, meanwhile, is reportedly prioritising negotiations with smaller allies first, a strategy seen as a move to strengthen its bargaining position.
With the AIADMK expected to release its initial list of candidates shortly and electioneering gathering pace, the alliance partners are navigating a delicate and high-stakes negotiation over seats, influence, and their long-term political equation in the state.