Chennai: In a significant political shift, the Congress on Wednesday ended its long-standing alliance with the DMK and extended support to the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) to form the next government in Tamil Nadu. The party also announced that the new alliance will continue through the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.

Congress in-charge for Tamil Nadu, Girish Chodankar, said the electorate—particularly the youth—had delivered a clear and decisive mandate for a secular, progressive, and welfare-oriented government rooted in constitutional values.

“The Tamil Nadu Congress Committee and the Congress Legislative Party have resolved to extend full support to the TVK to form the government. This support is conditional on the alliance excluding any communal forces that do not uphold the Constitution of India,” Chodankar said.

He added that the Congress and TVK aim to revive the “glorious era” of former Chief Minister K. Kamaraj, with the alliance based on mutual respect, fair power-sharing, and collective responsibility.

“This partnership is not limited to government formation but will extend to future elections, including local bodies, the Lok Sabha, and the Rajya Sabha,” he said.

Chodankar further noted that TVK leader Vijay and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi have jointly pledged to honour the people’s mandate and work towards fulfilling the aspirations of Tamil Nadu, especially its youth.

Congress’s exit from the DMK alliance had been widely anticipated, particularly after Rahul Gandhi’s conversation with Vijay on the day election results were announced. While the party had considered aligning with TVK before the elections, senior leaders ultimately chose to contest alongside the ruling DMK.

The Congress-DMK alliance, originally forged by Sonia Gandhi in 2004 to counter the BJP, had remained intact in all elections from 2004 to 2026, except for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.