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If the TVK-Congress alliance works, it would mean Congress’s rule in four southern states — Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana and Kerala
(From left) Vijay, Rahul Gandhi, MK Stalin. (File)
Just ahead of the 2004 polls, it was an extended lunch planned by Sonia Gandhi to put together a coalition to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). When asked about the Congress being a dynastic party, she had retorted asking, “What will you say about parties like the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)?”
That she was upset with the DMK for “delaying justice and probe in the assassination of her late husband, Rajiv Gandhi” and blamed them for it, was clear.
So, many were flummoxed when the same DMK became one of the closest allies of the Congress. Such was the bonhomie between Karunanidhi and Sonia Gandhi that she pressured and cajoled the then PM, the late Dr Manmohan Singh, into giving ministerial portfolios as per the DMK’s wish.
This, after Singh’s earlier refusal.
Gandhi always defended this alliance with the DMK as “the need of the hour to keep the BJP away”.
Years later, her son, Rahul Gandhi, has done the same thing — dumped the DMK to join hands with the Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). He has his reasons.
I spoke to Thiru Vijay and congratulated him on TVK’s spectacular result.This mandate reflects the rising voice of youth which cannot, and will not, be ignored.
My heartfelt thanks to the Congress workers of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry for their hard work and support.
I…
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 4, 2026
One, a restless cadre which said, “We had to settle for fewer seats to contest. And never allowed to be a part of government… we want this now.”
Even though sources say Rahul Gandhi was not keen to be part of government and wanted to give outside support, with the possibility of the MLAs leaving looming large, he accepted. Although sources close to him say he did face a momentary “dharm sankat” for dumping the DMK.
On many occasions, the Congress had felt that the DMK was belittling Congress. Like when the Congress had requested Udhayanidhi Stalin not to speak on Sanatan Dharm as it could hurt it in Madhya Pradesh polls, but no heed was paid. The Congress felt that it was important to checkmate the BJP to keep it out of the South. So if the TVK-Congress alliance works, it would mean Congress’s rule in four southern states — Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana and Kerala.
He also hopes that this could help enthuse the cadre in other states as well, like Andhra Pradesh, and possibly be the base to build up the party in Tamil Nadu as well, something which they feel was not being able to do with the DMK around.
Sources say Rahul Gandhi was never too comfortable with Stalin. His ideas and also the age never gelled with him. In Vijay, he sees someone closer to his ideas.
Plus, sources say Rahul Gandhi was always his fan.
The tell-tale signs of a DMK-Congress sharing were the absence of a joint campaign between Stalin and Rahul Gandhi.
The Congress has justified the Vijay outreach as needed to keep the BJP away. But will the Congress lose or gain?
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