R. ARIVANANTHAM
CHENNAI, JUNE 27
In a dramatic development that could reshape Tamil Nadu’s post-election political landscape, the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), led by veteran leader Vaiko, on Saturday formally severed its nine-year association with the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA), accusing its long-time ally of allegedly attempting to facilitate the formation of an AIADMK-led government after the 2026 Assembly elections.
#WATCH | "திமுக கூட்டணியில் இருந்து விலகுவது என பொதுக்குழுவில் அறிவித்தபோது…"
மதிமுக பொதுக்குழுவில் நடந்ததை விரிவாக விளக்கிய அக்கட்சியின் பொதுச் செயலாளர் வைகோ.#SunNews | #Vaiko | #MDMK pic.twitter.com/6eMbkf6vaC
— Sun News (@sunnewstamil) June 27, 2026
A Raja on Vaiko | ”நீங்க என்ன பெரிய தலைவரா” வைகோவை பொளந்த ஆ.ராசா! கவனித்து பார்த்த ஸ்டாலின் #araja #vaiko #mkstalin #dmk #mdmk #arajaspeech pic.twitter.com/ctBkpjtZWG
— ABP Nadu (@abpnadu) June 25, 2026
- Nine-year-old Secular Progressive Alliance suffers another major setback as MDMK formally walks out after explosive General Council resolution
- Vaiko-led party alleges post-election attempts to facilitate an AIADMK-led government, saying such moves diluted the alliance’s proclaimed secular ideology
- MDMK says future electoral partnerships will be decided only when elections approach, keeping Tamil Nadu’s political equations wide open
- Exit follows growing unease within the alliance after the 2026 Assembly verdict, signalling a fresh phase of political realignment in the State
The decision was unanimously endorsed by the party’s General Council through a strongly worded resolution that questioned the ideological credibility of the alliance and declared that the MDMK would decide its future electoral alignments only when the next elections approach.
The resolution alleged that after the Assembly election results were declared on May 4, 2026, “behind-the-scenes political deals” ran contrary to the people’s mandate.
According to the resolution, “It was an open secret that ‘arrangements’ were made to install an AIADMK government.”
The MDMK further alleged that the AIADMK, which had secured only 47 Assembly seats after contesting with what it described as “Hindutva communal forces,” was sought to be brought to power through political manoeuvring.
The resolution asserted that “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.'”
Announcing its formal exit, the General Council declared: “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.”
It further resolved: “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 joined the DMK-led alliance through a High-Level Committee resolution adopted on December 3, 2017, with the objective of preventing communal forces from gaining a foothold in Tamil Nadu and safeguarding the ideological foundations of the Dravidian movement.
The party maintained that the developments following the 2026 Assembly elections had fundamentally altered those political assumptions, making continuation in the alliance untenable.
The exit marks another significant blow to the DMK-led coalition, which has witnessed a series of alliance shifts since the Assembly election. Political observers believe the MDMK’s decision could further accelerate negotiations and fresh alignments ahead of future electoral contests, even as the party has deliberately kept its options open without announcing its next political destination.
