Alliance Intact, But No Power-Sharing With Congress In Tamil Nadu: CM Stalin

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Wednesday said that the alliance between the DMK and the Congress is intact, confirming the two parties will remain allies for the 2026 Assembly elections.

Speaking at the India Today Tamil Nadu Roundtable, Stalin projected confidence in securing a second term and described his relationship with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as "brotherly" bond.

Despite the warm words, the Chief Minister was firm on one point: the DMK intends to govern alone.

DMK Eyes Solo Governance

Stalin dismissed the idea of a coalition government, stating that the DMK expects to win enough seats to form a government without sharing cabinet posts. "The DMK will form its own government," he asserted, noting that the party aims to outperform its 2021 success.

In the 2021 elections, the DMK won 133 of the 234 seats, giving it an outright majority. While the Congress won 18 seats as an ally, they were not given any ministerial positions. Stalin's recent comments suggest that even if the alliance wins in 2026, the power structure will likely remain the same.

Tensions Over Seat-Sharing

While Stalin remains "calm and suave," the Congress camp has shown signs of frustration. Girish Chodankar, the Congress official in charge of Tamil Nadu, recently expressed "pain" over a 70-day delay in starting official talks. He noted that while the Congress formed its negotiation team in November, they have been waiting for an invitation from the DMK ever since.

The Congress is reportedly pushing for:

• A larger share of the total seats.
• A Rajya Sabha seat.

Cabinet positions (power-sharing) in the next government.

Negotiations to Begin Soon

The wait appears to be nearly over. The DMK has announced that formal seat-sharing discussions will begin on February 22, immediately after the current Assembly session ends.

TNCC President K. Selvaperunthagai has attempted to downplay the friction, insisting that "what Chief Minister Stalin says will be final." He dismissed claims of a rift as speculation, even as some DMK members have publicly questioned the strength of the Congress's grassroots presence in the state.

As the 2026 campaign begins to take shape, Stalin's challenge will be maintaining this "brotherly" alliance while keeping the DMK's grip on power absolute. For now, the message is clear: the partnership is on, but the keys to the cabinet remain firmly with the DMK.