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DMDK Officially Joins DMK Alliance, Expanding Anti‑BJP Bloc Ahead of Tamil Nadu Election

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DMDK Integration Formalized at DMK Headquarters The Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam signed a pact with the DMK on 19 February 2026 at the Anna Arivalayam in Chennai, attended by chief minister M.K. Stalin, deputy chief minister Udhyanidhi Stalin, parliamentary leader Kanimozhi and minister K.N. Nehru [1]. Party general secretary Premallatha Vijayakant, flanked by her brother L.K. Sudheesh, announced a seat‑allocation committee that will finalize candidate lists for over 200 contested seats [1]. Stalin praised DMDK’s red‑black flag and welcomed the “Dravidian Model government,” while Premallatha dismissed rumors of a DMDK‑AIADMK‑BJP alignment as a TRP‑driven stunt [1].

DMK‑Led Secular Progressive Alliance Remains Tamil Nadu’s Strongest Anti‑BJP Force The SPA, comprising DMK, Congress and now DMDK, continues to dominate state politics through a cohesive ideology and seamless vote‑transfer mechanism [3]. Its 2024 general‑election performance delivered a record haul of Congress MPs, reinforcing the bloc’s anti‑BJP credentials [3]. The addition of DMDK, a party with a historic Dravidian legacy, further consolidates the alliance’s electoral breadth ahead of the upcoming assembly poll [1].

Congress Leaders Voice Power‑Share Demands Within SPA Congress MP Manickam Tagore and AIPC president Praveen Chakravarty publicly criticized the DMK, contravening the party high command’s directive to keep disputes private [3]. Despite these statements, Congress’s modest 2021 assembly tally of 18 seats out of 25 contested limits its bargaining leverage in the coalition [3]. Analysts warn that a shift toward a TVK tie‑up would jeopardize Congress’s recent gains, urging the party to rebuild its organisational base rather than destabilise the SPA [3].

Historical Context: 1980 Lok Sabha Defeat Triggered MGR Government Dismissal In January 1980 the DMK‑Congress(I) combine swept Tamil Nadu’s Lok Sabha seats, while AIADMK leader M.G. Ramachandran (MGR) suffered a heavy loss, prompting Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to recommend Article 356 dismissal of the state government [2]. President N. Sanjiva Reddy issued the proclamation on 16 February 2026, dissolving assemblies in eight non‑Congress states, including Tamil Nadu [2]. MGR initially expressed “happiness” before condemning the move as “democracy on trial,” later returning as chief minister after winning the subsequent assembly election [2].

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Timeline

Jan 9, 1980 – M.G. Ramachandran refuses to resign after the AIADMK loss in the Lok Sabha polls, citing recent by‑election victories and his preference for Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, and declares the state government need not step down [2].

Jan 1980 – The DMK‑Congress(I) combine sweeps the Tamil Nadu Lok Sabha seats while the ruling AIADMK is defeated, securing about 48 lakh votes across 24 constituencies [2].

Feb 16, 1980 – The Union Cabinet approves a Home Ministry note and President N. Sanjiva Reddy issues a proclamation under Article 356, dismissing the Tamil Nadu assembly along with seven other non‑Congress states [2].

June 1980 (approx.) – Four months after the dismissal, the AIADMK‑CPI(M) alliance wins the state assembly election, restoring M.G. Ramachandran to the chief‑ministerial post [2].

1989 – Tamil Nadu politics experiences a major split that creates a dominant DMK front and a fragmented opposition, a pattern echoed in the 2026 electoral landscape [6].

2016 – Premallatha Vijayakant recalls that the late DMDK founder Captain Vijayakant had wanted a DMK tie‑up in 2016, a wish that later materialises [1].

2021 – In the Tamil Nadu Assembly election, the Congress wins 18 of the 25 seats it contests, marking a sharp rise from its 2016 performance [3].

2024 – The DMK‑led Secular Progressive Alliance delivers a strong haul of MPs for Congress in the general election, reinforcing the SPA as the state’s most robust anti‑BJP bloc [3].

Dec 14, 2025 – Chief Minister M.K. Stalin tells a DMK youth‑wing meeting in Tiruvannamalai that neither Union Home Minister Amit Shah nor the Sangh Parivar can win in Tamil Nadu, quoting a Tamil film line to stress the state’s distinct character [8].

Dec 23, 2025 – Union Minister Piyush Goyal meets AIADMK chief Edappadi K. Palaniswami in Chennai for NDA seat‑sharing talks, signalling the formal start of coalition negotiations for the 2026 Assembly poll [7].

Dec 23, 2025 – Goyal declares that the NDA will secure a sweeping victory under Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election, positioning the alliance as the alternative to the “corrupt” DMK regime [7].

Jan 1, 2026 – Analysts note that the DMK holds an edge as a crowded field of newcomers—TVK, Naam Tamilar Katchi, DMDK and a divided PMK—mirrors the 1989 split and intensifies competition ahead of the 2026 polls [6].

Jan 1, 2026 – K.A. Sengottaiyan leaves the Palaniswami faction to join actor Vijay’s new party, while MLA P. Manoj Pandian switches allegiance to the DMK, reshaping regional power balances [6].

Jan 1, 2026 – O. Panneerselvam meets Chief Minister Stalin, sparking speculation of future collaboration, but officials rule out a direct DMK‑OPS alliance and expect OPS to side with the AIADMK‑BJP combine [6].

Jan 1, 2026 – Congress leader Girish Chodankar publicly demands a share in government, but the DMK leadership rebuffs the request, highlighting growing tension within the SPA [6].

Jan 1, 2026 – The Tamil Nadu Assembly election is scheduled for later in 2026, prompting all major parties to intensify campaigning and alliance‑building efforts [6].

Jan 4, 2026 – Union Home Minister Amit Shah brands the DMK government “the most corrupt” and pledges that the NDA will form a government in Tamil Nadu in April 2026, aiming to install Udhayanidhi Stalin as chief minister [4].

Jan 4, 2026 – Shah accuses DMK ministers of multi‑crore cash‑for‑jobs schemes, money‑laundering, illegal sand mining and coal scams, claiming a 20 % cut in money for every scheme [4].

Jan 4, 2026 – AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami declares that the AIADMK will form the next government on its own after the 2026 Assembly election, rejecting any NDA arrangement [5].

Jan 4, 2026 – Palaniswami alleges that the DMK extracts a ₹30 lakh bribe per stone‑crusher unit, amasses ₹900 crore through such schemes, and diverts ₹44 crore earmarked for women’s self‑help groups [5].

Feb 19, 2026 – The Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam formally enters the DMK‑led alliance, meeting Chief Minister M.K. Stalin at the Anna Arivalayam headquarters in Chennai, with senior DMK officials in attendance [1].

Feb 19, 2026 – Premallatha Vijayakant says the pact fulfills Captain Vijayakant’s 2016 wish and recalls Karunanidhi’s remark that “the fruit is about to slip into the milk,” underscoring the symbolic closure of a decade‑long aspiration [1].

Feb 19, 2026 – DMDK announces it will contest more than 200 seats and will set up a seat‑allocation committee, with the final candidate list to be announced by Chief Minister Stalin [1].

Feb 19, 2026 – M.K. Stalin publicly welcomes DMDK’s entry, praises its red‑black flag and urges joint work for Tamil Nadu’s growth, framing the alliance as part of a “Dravidian Model government” [1].

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