As Tamil Nadu gears up for the 2026 Assembly elections, political discourse is intensifying, particularly regarding the future of the DMK-Congress alliance. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has asserted that the DMK will form the government on its own strength, while also maintaining that the alliance with the Congress remains strong.
Stalin's statements come amid speculation about potential friction between the DMK and Congress, especially concerning seat sharing and power distribution in the upcoming elections. In the 2021 Assembly elections, the DMK won 133 out of 234 seats, enabling it to form the government independently. The Congress, as an ally, secured 18 out of the 25 seats it contested but did not receive any ministerial positions. This arrangement has become a point of reference in current negotiations.
While dismissing any immediate power-sharing talks, Stalin has emphasized his cordial relationship with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, referring to it as a "brotherly attachment". He has accused political opponents of attempting to create divisions within the DMK-Congress coalition for their electoral advantage, reiterating that the alliance remains robust and united. According to Stalin, there is no confusion within the coalition.
The Congress party, however, has publicly expressed its desire for a larger role in the alliance this time around. In response to Stalin's remarks, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K. Selvaperunthagai stated that both Rahul Gandhi and Stalin would arrive at a "good decision" regarding the matter.
In addition to addressing the alliance dynamics, Stalin has launched a sharp critique against the BJP-led NDA, calling it a "dabba engine" or an empty vessel, rather than a "double engine". He has accused the NDA of spreading "falsehoods, hate and communal tension" ahead of the elections and alleges that the NDA is deliberately trying to widen the divide with minorities in the state. Stalin has asserted that such divisive politics have no place in Tamil Nadu and that the people of the state will give the NDA a "great disappointment" for its provocations.
Stalin has set an ambitious goal for the DMK to win 200 constituencies in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, urging party members to intensify their efforts. He has framed the election as a crucial contest between Tamil Nadu and the NDA, emphasizing the need to establish a new record in the state polls. He has also urged continuous grassroots campaigning, encouraging party members to campaign until the very last minute, even for families that have not voted for the DMK in the past.
Furthermore, Stalin has stated that Tamil Nadu should give "zero" seats to the BJP in the 2026 Assembly election, criticizing the Union government for providing nothing to the state in the budget and for not fulfilling the state's genuine demands. He has also ridiculed AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami for claiming to be the head of the NDA in the state, alleging that the BJP has made the AIADMK a branch of the national party.