Congress all for DMK rule in the state: Ghulam Nabi Azad on TN Assembly polls

As DMK is still waiting for a positive reply from Captain Vijayakanth’s DMDK, any talks on seat sharing would have to wait until there is a clarity on the larger alliance and potential allies.

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Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad

Followed by a meeting of Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad with DMK Chief M Karunanidhi on Saturday, both parties have formally announced their alliance in the assembly polls, which is to be held in two months. Azad said his party is all for a DMK rule in the state and also said about a possible expansion of alliance with more parties to make a coalition government.

Karunanidhi’s daughter Kanimozhi and party treasurer M K Stalin were also present in the meeting. Stalin confirmed the alliance although he said that seat-sharing talks will be held later. As DMK is still waiting for a positive reply from Captain Vijayakanth’s DMDK, any talks on seat sharing would have to wait until there is a clarity on the larger alliance and potential allies.

Watch Video: DMK, Congress join hands for TN assembly polls

In Tamil Nadu, Congress has long been called as a ‘dead party’ by its rivals, for time and time again, and it had “died again” when G K Vasan split the party to form Tamil Manila Congress (TMC) in 2014, rivals would say. But this time around – Congress not only shows positive signs of an improved cadre base but also questions the popular theories on the strength of DMDK – Captain VIjayakanth’s party that continue to showcase itself as a most demanding alliance partner.

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However, this alliance of DMK and Congress is significant for two reasons – One, a reversal in the poll strategies of DMK that contested in Lok Sabha elections without Congress, when Congress had bagged five percent votes. When DMDK continue to claim its 8-9% vote share from its past, Congress’s claim of 5% sounds better because DMDK was an alliance partner unlike Congress. And questions on the current status and strength of DMDK, its cadre base and its district level leaderships are something to be answered in coming months although Vijayakanth was capable of projecting himself as an essential ally – being the one and only leader of the party.

Another advantage of DMK to have Congress on board would be its better leadership. When the Dravidian party continue to be a masculine party without any major women faces other than Karunanidhi’s daughter Kanimozhi, Congress may be a better ally with its sizeable women cadres and leaders in second level leadership besides Khushboo, an actor-turned-politician, whose speeches largely makes sense to the crowd than any other women leaders in the state.

But on the ground, failing to capitalise the anti-incumbency trends, DMK still have to work hard to get more potential allies and set a trend before elections. If Congress and its traditional cadre base in southern districts are to be trusted and if DMK could gain the trust of a party to be won, state Chief EVKS Elangovan would also play a major role for his political wisdom and assertive stands against the ruling party.

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Even when Karunanidhi’s son and party treasurer M K Stalin was aloof and silent from active politics until few months ago when he launched Namukku Naame, a state wide road show ahead of polls, Elangovan may be the one leader who was assertive and untiring in taking up issues and criticising Jayalalithaa government in almost all the crucial issues that affected the state.

Arun Janardhanan

Arun Janardhanan is an experienced and authoritative Tamil Nadu correspondent for The Indian Express. Based in the state, his reporting combines ground-level access with long-form clarity, offering readers a nuanced understanding of South India’s political, judicial, and cultural life - work that reflects both depth of expertise and sustained authority. Expertise Geographic Focus: As Tamil Nadu Correspondent focused on politics, crime, faith and disputes, Janardhanan has been also reporting extensively on Sri Lanka, producing a decade-long body of work on its elections, governance, and the aftermath of the Easter Sunday bombings through detailed stories and interviews. Key Coverage Areas: State Politics and Governance: Close reporting on the DMK and AIADMK, the emergence of new political actors such as actor Vijay’s TVK, internal party churn, Centre–State tensions, and the role of the Governor. Legal and Judicial Affairs: Consistent coverage of the Madras High Court, including religion-linked disputes and cases involving state authority and civil liberties. Investigations: Deep-dive series on landmark cases and unresolved questions, including the Tirupati encounter and the Rajiv Gandhi assassination, alongside multiple investigative series from Tamil Nadu. Culture, Society, and Crisis: Reporting on cultural organisations, language debates, and disaster coverage—from cyclones to prolonged monsoon emergencies—anchored in on-the-ground detail. His reporting has been recognised with the Ramnath Goenka Award for Excellence in Journalism. Beyond journalism, Janardhanan is also a screenwriter; his Malayalam feature film Aarkkariyam was released in 2021. ... Read More