Cong has right to demand power in TN alliance: Thiruma

Thirumavalavan, leader of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, has said that the Indian National Congress has the right to seek a share in power within the Tamil Nadu election coalition with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, amid ongoing alliance discussions ahead of the 2026 Assembly polls. Addressing the media in Chennai, he noted that every party in an alliance naturally has its own goals, and if Congress chooses to raise a demand for a larger role in governance, it is within its rights to do so and resolve it through internal dialogue. However, he stressed that pushing such demands aggressively at this stage could create instability, and thus Congress has not pressed the issue forcefully. But the demand itself has not been dropped. Thirumavalavan also pointed out that while coalition power sharing has been debated in the past, the political environment does not yet favour a full coalition government, and parties must be cautious not to weaken the alliance by heightening tensions. He expressed confidence that discussions will continue amicably and that the Congress‑DMK alliance will remain intact as talks proceed on seat sharing and coalition arrangements.