Vaiko Ends MDMK's Alliance With DMK, Announces Support for CM Vijay's TVK
Veteran Tamil Nadu politician and Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) chief Vaiko on Saturday announced a major political realignment by ending his party's long-standing association with the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance. The MDMK will now support Chief Minister Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), marking a significant shift in the state's political landscape.
The announcement came a day after the MDMK's general council held an important meeting in Chennai to discuss the party's future political strategy following the recent Assembly elections.
Addressing reporters after the meeting, Vaiko confirmed the party's new direction, saying, "We will support the TVK led by CM Vijay." He also announced that the MDMK would back the ruling TVK in the upcoming bypolls to six Assembly seats in Tamil Nadu.
Explaining the decision, Vaiko accused the DMK of attempting to facilitate the formation of an AIADMK-led government after the Assembly election results. He argued that such actions were contrary to the secular principles that the DMK had long claimed to uphold.
In a resolution adopted during the general council meeting, the MDMK alleged that political developments behind the scenes after the election results were declared on May 4 had gone against the mandate given by the people. The party stated that any effort to support an AIADMK-led government weakened the ideological foundation of the Secular Progressive Alliance.
The resolution further noted that under these circumstances, party leaders and workers believed there was no justification for the MDMK to remain part of the DMK-led alliance.
The MDMK had been associated with the Secular Progressive Alliance for more than eight years. In December 2017, the party had formally joined hands with the DMK, stating that the alliance was aimed at preventing communal forces from gaining influence in Tamil Nadu and protecting the core values of the Dravidian movement.
In the recently concluded Assembly elections, the MDMK won two seats, with both candidates contesting on the DMK's 'Rising Sun' symbol. Meanwhile, Vijay-led TVK emerged as the single largest party by securing 108 seats, falling just 10 short of the majority mark. The Congress, Left parties and several smaller allies later extended support to TVK, enabling Vijay to form the government.
Political observers had been noticing signs of growing closeness between Vaiko and Chief Minister Vijay in recent weeks. Soon after Vijay was sworn in as Chief Minister on May 10, both Vaiko and his son, Durai Vaiko, publicly praised him for his "political magnanimity" after he visited the veteran leader's residence. Subsequent meetings between the two leaders further fuelled speculation about a possible political realignment.
With the MDMK now officially backing the Vijay-led government, Tamil Nadu's political equations are expected to undergo another significant change ahead of the upcoming bypolls and future electoral battles.
