DMK Leader Slams Congress: 'More Arrogant Than BJP' Amid Tamil Nadu Split

Chennai, Tamil Nadu – The political landscape in Tamil Nadu, and by extension, the national opposition front, has been significantly rattled following a sharp rebuke from Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader Alim Albuhari directed at the Indian National Congress. Albuhari publicly accused the Congress of exhibiting an 'arrogance' that surpasses even that of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and decried its 'loss of basic courtesy' in state politics.

The DMK's strong condemnation stems from the Congress's recent decision to align with the actor-turned-politician C. Joseph Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) to form the government in Tamil Nadu, effectively abandoning its long-term ally, the DMK, after the inconclusive 2026 Assembly elections. This move has not only fractured a decades-old alliance but also prompted the DMK to withdraw from the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc, a grand coalition of opposition parties at the national level aimed at challenging the BJP.

Albuhari articulated the DMK's disillusionment, stating that his party joined the INDIA bloc with the fundamental belief that the Congress would uphold and safeguard the federal structure of the country. However, he lamented that the Congress's actions contradicted this very principle. He emphasized that the Congress's perceived arrogance is a primary reason why other prominent regional leaders, such as Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor Arvind Kejriwal, have shown hesitation in fully committing to the multi-party opposition alliance.

The crux of the tension in Tamil Nadu arose from the aftermath of the 2026 Assembly elections, which resulted in a hung assembly, with no single party securing an outright majority. The TVK, a relatively new political force founded by C. Joseph Vijay in 2026, emerged as the single largest front, securing 108 seats. Instead of continuing its alliance with the DMK, which had been part of the Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) and saw its candidates, including Congress members, campaign to make M.K. Stalin the Chief Minister, the Congress opted to extend support to the TVK. Albuhari sharply criticised this, alleging that Congress was 'running behind power' and acted 'without basic courtesy' by aligning with TVK.

Adding to the DMK's fiery rhetoric, Udhayanidhi Stalin, a prominent DMK Youth Wing leader, publicly accused the Congress of 'stabbing the DMK in the back.' He highlighted the years of dedicated effort and support DMK workers had invested in helping Congress candidates in Tamil Nadu, only for the national party to abandon them when an alternative path to power emerged.

The relationship between the DMK and Congress has a complex history, marked by periods of close collaboration and occasional discord, dating back to 1971. Despite these historical fluctuations, the alliance had largely stabilized since 2004 under the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) banner, proving to be a formidable electoral force. Notably, in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the DMK-Congress alliance achieved a resounding victory, sweeping all 39 parliamentary seats in Tamil Nadu, with Congress winning nine seats largely on the back of DMK's ground support.

However, strains began to emerge even before the 2026 state elections. Reports indicated DMK leadership's dissatisfaction with seat-sharing negotiations and a perceived lack of engagement from national Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi. Internal divisions within the Tamil Nadu Congress unit also came to light regarding demands for a share in governance, which DMK Chief Minister M.K. Stalin firmly dismissed as a 'conspiracy,' reiterating DMK's dominant position. The ultimate decision by Congress to back TVK, after winning five seats as part of the SPA with DMK, was seen by the DMK as a profound betrayal.

The repercussions extend far beyond Tamil Nadu, significantly impacting the fragile unity of the INDIA bloc. The DMK's absence from a scheduled INDIA bloc meeting in Delhi on June 8, 2026, underscored the widening fault lines within the national opposition. This development fuels doubts about the coalition's cohesion and its long-term viability as a credible alternative to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in future national elections. DMK MP Kanimozhi's request for separate seating arrangements for her party colleagues in the Lok Sabha further signals the deepening fracture within the opposition ranks.

While the DMK perceives the Congress's move as opportunistic, the Congress party has reportedly defended its decision to align with TVK. Senior Congress leaders cited the 'wish of the majority of party workers in the State' as a factor and framed the alliance as an effort to uphold the 'legacy of K. Kamaraj, the social justice ideals of Periyar E. V. Ramasamy, and the constitutional principles of B. R. Ambedkar in Tamil Nadu.' Regardless of the justifications, the incident has left a significant scar on inter-party trust within the broader opposition ecosystem, suggesting a more transactional future for alliance politics, particularly with general elections on the horizon.