With only a short time left for the announcement of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, political activity across parties has intensified, with alliances, seat-sharing talks, and campaign strategies gathering pace.
While the DMK-led alliance is working to retain power, the AIADMK-BJP combine has stepped up efforts to capture it. The electoral field is also witnessing the presence of Naam Tamilar Katchi and TVK, creating what is being seen as a four-cornered contest.
Within the DMK alliance, however, signs of strain have emerged involving the Congress party. Some Congress functionaries have reportedly shown interest in exploring alliance possibilities with TVK, even as senior leaders such as Praveen Chakravarthy and Manickam Tagore have articulated views critical of the DMK.
Congress Raises Alliance Concerns
A high-level Congress meeting was held in Delhi to deliberate on the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. Following the meeting, Congress leaders expressed dissatisfaction that the DMK had not yet constituted its alliance negotiation committee.
Tamil Nadu Congress in-charge K Raju (Chris Sodankar) reportedly conveyed displeasure, stating that the Congress had formed its negotiation committee nearly 70 days ago. Tamil Nadu Congress Committee President K. Selvaperunthagai, who had until recently maintained a conciliatory tone toward the DMK, also publicly shifted his stance.
He said delays by the DMK in initiating alliance talks could create unnecessary confusion, adding that party workers were disappointed. He urged the DMK to constitute its negotiation committee at the earliest and indicated that the Congress would strongly press its demand for a share in governance before the Chief Minister.
Stalin’s Response
Amid the growing buzz, Chief Minister and DMK president MK Stalin announced that alliance talks with friendly parties would be held on 22 February 2026.
Subsequently, speaking at an India Today event, Stalin asserted that the DMK-Congress alliance remained harmonious but firmly ruled out any power-sharing arrangement, stating that sharing governance was not suitable for Tamil Nadu. He said, “The DMK-Congress alliance is strong in Tamil Nadu. Will fight the election together. Power sharing is not suitable for TN. The question of sharing of power in government does not arise now.”
His remarks were widely interpreted as a rejection of the Congress party’s demand for a role in government.
Congress Reaction
Responding to Stalin’s comments, TNCC chief Selvaperunthagai sought to downplay tensions, stating that everyone was entitled to their own views and that the Chief Minister had expressed his opinion. He said decisions on what would benefit both the alliance and the people would be taken jointly by the leadership of the two parties.
He maintained that the DMK-Congress alliance remained strong and that no issues would arise within it.
Selvaperunthagai said in an interview with Puthiya Thalaimurai, “That is the hon’ble chief minister’s opinion, his party’s opinion. He has spoken about the situation in TN. We do not have a difference of opinion on that. Each party has its opinion. Each party has its expectations. Saying those expectations out loud is democracy. Based on that different leaders have made different statements. To accept it or not is in the hands of the Congress high command and the hon’ble chief minister. Everyone is waiting for an obstacle to come out of this. Nothing like that will happen. The I.N.D.I alliance is a strong alliance. TN CM Stalin is heading this alliance. All the leaders – Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, DMK chief TN CM Stalin, LoP Rahul Gandhi will take a good decision, a decision to protect the country and the soil of TN. There will be no problems.”
“முதல்வர் சொன்னது அவரது கருத்து” – ஆட்சியில் பங்கில்லை என்ற முதல்வரின் கருத்துக்கு தமிழ்நாடு காங்கிரஸ் தலைவர் செல்வப்பெருந்தகை பதில்#MKStalin | #DMK | #Selvaperunthagai | #Congress | #Election2026 | #ElectionWithPT pic.twitter.com/MqQBwvZ5av
— PttvOnlinenews (@PttvNewsX) February 11, 2026
However, political observers noted that Selvaperunthagai’s earlier remarks at a press meet, seen as pressure on the DMK, had triggered controversy, and that his latest response marked a return to a more conciliatory tone after Stalin’s firm rebuttal.
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Developments within the alliance are also said to have drawn attention at the Congress high command level in Delhi, where the evolving situation has reportedly caused concern.
Source: OneIndia Tamil
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