Chennai, India – The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has emphatically ruled out any future political alliance with the Indian National Congress, with senior leader R.S. Bharathi stating that the party's grassroots cadres would never accept their former ally back into the fold.
Speaking to reporters in Pudukkottai, Bharathi dismissed any speculation of reconciliation between the two parties, which had maintained an alliance for two decades until recently. He used sharp analogies to describe the political separation, comparing it to an irretrievably broken relationship: "No one lives with a wife who runs away. There is no longer any political ties or relationships with them."
The Genesis of the Split
The rift between the DMK and Congress widened significantly after the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. Following the results, the Congress party opted to ally with actor Vijay's Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) to form the state government. This decision was viewed by the DMK as a profound betrayal, prompting DMK General Secretary Udhayanidhi Stalin to declare that the party would "never trust" Congress again.
Further solidifying the breakdown, DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi formally requested separate seating arrangements for DMK members in the Lok Sabha on May 7, confirming that "our alliance with the Indian National Congress has come to an end."
Impact on the INDIA Bloc
The growing animosity is also affecting the broader INDIA Bloc, an opposition coalition. The DMK has announced its decision to skip a crucial INDIA Bloc meeting scheduled for June 8, 2026, in New Delhi. This move has led to senior DMK leaders questioning the party's continued participation in the coalition, with one leader reportedly stating, "The INDIA Bloc is gone."
Bharathi also reiterated the DMK's commitment to its core ideological position, firmly ruling out any future alignment with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He criticized the increasing trend of politicians switching parties, labeling it the "Aya Ram Gaya Ram" culture, and predicted that such opportunism would not lead to lasting political success.