Chennai: The Indian National Congress on Wednesday snapped its long-standing alliance with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in Tamil Nadu, following its decision to back the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) led by Vijay to form the government in the state.

Announcing the move, Congress said its partnership with the TVK would extend beyond the immediate government formation and continue into future electoral contests, including local body polls, the Lok Sabha, and the Rajya Sabha.

Despite the break with the DMK at the state level, Congress leaders indicated that both parties could continue to remain part of the broader INDIA bloc, formed to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)

nationally. They pointed out that other constituents, such as the Left parties and the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), have also contested against one another in states while remaining within the alliance at the national level.

However, the development is likely to raise questions over unity and cohesion within the INDIA bloc.

Meanwhile, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay is unlikely to take the oath tomorrow as Chief Minister, as the actor-turned-politician firms up support to cross the majority mark in the Tamil Nadu assembly, sources said on Wednesday.

Sources said TVK "does not have official figures as of now" and the Governor is apparently not convinced about the numbers so far.

TVK won 108 seats in the 234-member assembly and is ten short of the majority mark. With Vijay also to step down from one of the two seats he won in in the assembly polls, the effective strength of TVK in the assembly will become 107.

TVK, which emerged as the single-largest party in Tamil Nadu in a spectacular assembly polls debut, has secured the support of five Congress MLAs.

Congress had fought the election as part of the DMK-led alliance, but has decided to extend support to TVK.

Vijay, on Wednesday, met Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Arlekar at the Lok Bhavan as part of government formation efforts.

Source: mathrubhumi