Vaiko-led MDMK ends eight-year alliance with DMK

The MDMK, led by Vaiko, announced its withdrawal from the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, alleging attempts to facilitate an AIADMK government after the Tamil Nadu Assembly polls. The party said it would decide future electoral alliances closer to upcoming elections

Chennai: Accusing long-time ally DMK of attempting to allegedly prop up an AIADMK government, the MDMK general council, led by party chief Vaiko, on Saturday announced its decision to snap ties with the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance.

Such a move to install an AIADMK-led regime-one that had a pre-poll tie-up with “Hindutva communal forces”-made the DMK’s avowed secular-ideology-based alliance slogan meaningless, the party asserted.

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In a resolution passed at the meeting held here, the MDMK alleged that after the Tamil Nadu Assembly election results were announced on May 4, 2026, it emerged that “behind-the-scenes political deals” had gone against the mandate given by the people.

It was an open secret that “arrangements” were made to install an AIADMK government, the MDMK alleged without directly naming the DMK. The AIADMK had won a mere 47 seats in the April 23 assembly polls by aligning with “Hindutva communal forces.” By attempting to form an AIADMK government, certain vested interests rendered completely meaningless the DMK’s proclamation that the Secular Progressive Alliance was an “ideological alliance.” The resolution further said: “Under these circumstances, the office-bearers and cadres of the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam have expressed their view that the party must no longer continue in the DMK-led alliance.

“Therefore, this general council hereby decides to withdraw from the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance. This general council resolves that the party will take appropriate decisions regarding alliances when the elections approach.” The MDMK recalled that it had been part of the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance for over eight years.

The Vaiko-led party had passed a resolution at a high-level committee meeting on December 3, 2017, to forge an alliance with the DMK. It was to prevent communal forces from gaining a foothold in Tamil Nadu and to protect the core ideological tenets of the Dravidian movement from being eroded, the MDMK said.