With Tamil Nadu heading to the polls on April 23, 2026, the once-stable Dravidian politics is witnessing a dramatic shift. The long-standing alliance between the Congress and DMK appears to be under severe strain, with reports and ground-level murmurs suggesting that a significant section of Congress workers and supporters are quietly shifting towards actor-turned-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). This internal drift, if true on a larger scale, could fragment DMK’s vote share in ways that ultimately benefit AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) and the NDA alliance.
Cracks In The Congress-DMK Partnership
The Congress-DMK alliance, has shown visible signs of fatigue. Despite being in alliance, both Rahul Gandhi and MK Stalin haven’t shared a single stage for the campaign.
Recent public incidents — including the much-discussed moment where Rahul Gandhi appeared to decline a shawl from DMK minister Mano Thangaraj — have only added fuel to speculation about deteriorating “chemistry” between the two parties.
Seat-sharing negotiations have been rocky, with Congress feeling sidelined in key discussions. Vijay himself has publicly claimed that the DMK has “bought” the Tamil Nadu Congress unit with money, while insisting that the “real Congress” cadres stand with TVK. Senior Congress leaders have downplayed such rifts, calling them routine bargaining tactics, but ground reports tell a different story. Disillusioned Congress workers, frustrated with limited seats and perceived disrespect from the DMK, are said to be looking elsewhere.
Congress Cadres Tilting Towards TVK?
Multiple accounts from party insiders and observers indicate that a notable chunk of Congress grassroots workers and even some local leaders are sympathetic to TVK. Earlier attempts at a Congress-TVK understanding reportedly failed due to high command decisions favoring the DMK alliance, leading to resentment.
Vijay has repeatedly highlighted this divide, arguing that while a section of the Congress leadership may have aligned with Stalin for power or resources, the ordinary worker and supporter identify more with TVK’s energetic, anti-establishment pitch. If even 10-15% of traditional Congress votes migrate to TVK, it could prove decisive in closely contested constituencies.
This is not mere speculation. Some Congress figures have openly acknowledged TVK as a “force to be reckoned with,” and past resignations or protests within the party were linked to the rejection of a potential tie-up with Vijay’s outfit.
Critically, analysts note that TVK’s appeal among younger voters and in urban/semi-urban areas could disproportionately cut into the DMK-Congress pool rather than the AIADMK base.
If the reported shift of Congress workers towards TVK materializes significantly on polling day, it could break the DMK’s hold and pave the way for an unexpected NDA resurgence under EPS.
