Chennai, Mar 3:
In a blunt political assessment ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leader C.T.R. Nirmal Kumar has asserted that the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) would struggle to win more than 25 to 30 seats if it contests without its traditional ally, the Indian National Congress.
Speaking at a press briefing on Monday, Nirmal Kumar described the Congress as the “natural partner” of the DMK and criticised elements of the DMK leadership for showing a lack of “basic respect” toward the national party during alliance interactions. He claimed that even historically — such as in the 2006 Assembly election — the DMK could not have crossed the 30-seat mark without Congress support.
According to Nirmal Kumar, ground reports and internal surveys compiled by TVK indicate that the DMK’s electoral prospects weaken significantly in the absence of a Congress alliance, underlining his party’s expectation that a fractured allied front would benefit TVK’s own ambitions.
The TVK’s comments reflect growing tensions within the broader political landscape of Tamil Nadu, where seat-sharing negotiations between the DMK and Congress have reportedly hit obstacles, with Congress pushing for a higher allocation of constituencies than what has been proposed by its current ally. Reports indicate that Congress continues to press for a larger share of seats in the alliance, even as negotiations continue without a definitive breakthrough.
Nirmal Kumar’s remarks come amid broader speculation about alliance dynamics, with some political observers suggesting that the Congress has emphasised the rising traction of TVK among younger voters, even while maintaining that formal talks remain focused on the DMK-led coalition.