In a major blow to NDA, Tamil Nadu’s ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has allied with the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) for the Assembly election likely in April or May.
The alliance was confirmed by DMDK leader Premalatha Vijayakant on X after she met DMK president and Chief Minister M K Stalin at his Chennai residence on Thursday morning.
Sharing photographs, she said, “Let us journey together for the continuation of the Dravidian model of governance and for Tamil Nadu to progress in every way." She added that seat-sharing details would be announced later but declared the alliance would win more than 200 seats.
Stalin welcomed the DMDK and paid homage to its founder Vijayakanth, popularly known as ‘Captain’. He told Premalatha that her arrival with the black-and-red flag would strengthen Tamil Nadu’s progress and prosperity. Premalatha said the alliance should have been formed earlier when her husband was alive, as party cadres had wished.
The move is seen as a significant gain for the DMK, as the DMDK had been allied with the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam since 2011. The DMDK has strong support in central districts such as Tiruchirappalli and around Pudukkottai. It won 29 seats and 7.9 per cent vote share in 2011, but failed to win any seats in 2016 and 2021.
Cuddalore district’s Virudhachalam and Rishivandiyam in Villupuram are considered DMDK strongholds, along with Kallakurichi and Ulundurpet. The DMK has held Rishivandiyam since 2016 but has not won Virudhachalam in three decades.
The alliance is expected to consolidate the DMK-led front, which currently includes the Congress, and cut into the rival camp’s vote share. The decision was criticised by the AIADMK. Former Lok Sabha MP and four-time MLA S Semmalai said, “The soul of Vijayakanth will not forgive this decision."
