No Betrayal of DMK, Congress Shared TVK Support Decision in Advance: Chidambaram

Senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram has asserted that the party informed the DMK leadership and its alliance partners before extending support to the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government following the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election.

Speaking to a television channel, Chidambaram said the decision was taken to ensure political stability and avoid the prospect of another election in the state. According to him, there was a broad consensus among opposition allies that a fresh poll should be avoided if TVK was unable to secure a majority on its own.

The Congress leader said the party communicated its stand to allies, including the CPI, CPI(M), VCK and IUML , before making the announcement. "The only difference was that Congress declared its support a day earlier than the others," he noted.

His remarks come amid friction between Congress and the DMK after the alliance's poor performance in the Assembly polls. Following the results, the DMK youth wing , led by Udhayanidhi Stalin , accused Congress of betraying the alliance. Senior DMK leader T.R. Baalu had also criticised the party for backing TVK.

In the election, TVK, led by actor-turned-politician Vijay , emerged as the single largest party with 108 seats , falling short of the 118-seat majority mark . Congress, which won five seats, was the first party to extend support to TVK. It was later joined by the VCK, IUML, CPI and CPI(M), enabling the party to secure the numbers required to form the government.

Chidambaram's statement appears aimed at rebutting allegations of betrayal and defending Congress's role in facilitating the formation of a stable government after a fractured electoral verdict.