Congress and DMK can still work together in Parliament, says Karti P. Chidambaram

There was no bond between DMK and Congress workers at the ground level. We won the elections but DMK has always behaved like a step brother at the ground level, says Karti P. Chidambaram. | Photo credit: J. Johan Sathyadas

Congress Lok Sabha MP Karti P. Chidambaram on Friday said the party’s decision to pull out of the alliance led by its long-time partner DMK after the 2026 Assembly elections does not necessarily signal the end of INDIA’s bloc at the national level as the Congress continues to work with the CPI(M) and the Trinamool Congress despite competing with them at the state level.

“Subsidiary contracts common”

Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Karti said that post-poll alliances are common all over the world, especially in Europe, and stressed the fact that the Congress’ decision to leave the DMK-led alliance did not deprive it of the opportunity to form the government in the state. “There was no bond between DMK and Congress workers at the grassroots level. We won the elections, but there was always step-brotherly treatment from the DMK at the ground level. Even during the local body elections, there is no proper power sharing. Delhi (high command) decided that we need a new relationship in the long run and we have to go with a new party,” he said.

Calling for a “sober” view of the issue, he said, “You can be a competitor in a state but be part of a national alliance. Congress and CPI(M) and Congress and TMC are competing in States, but we are together in Parliament. The way the split happened has resulted in bitterness towards the DMK,” he said.

Asked if he thought the Congress could gain more by allying with the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam and if it could replace the DMK when there was strong opposition to the BJP in Tamil Nadu, Mr. Karti said, “We have to see how the relationship develops. It is good as of now. We are now part of the state government after 1967 and we got a booth after two. But the real test is the local body elections…and whether it (the alliance) works on the ground if there is a fair distribution can, it will work.

“TVK is secular”

With TVK careful not to step on BJP’s toes, Mr. Karti added, “TVK’s thinking will become clear when its leader starts formulating his thoughts and reacting to situations. He (Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay) has insisted that he is secular and his political alliance reflects that. I have no doubt that BJP needs different techniques to see how secular different techniques are, but BJP. TVK will withstand them.”

As for the reasons why TVK won 108 seats, he said that the established political parties failed to notice the “micro-campaign” that took place in “our homes” and refused to acknowledge information that came from unconventional sources. “I believed that TVK would get a significant number of votes. My final assessment was that it would get 28% of the vote. Once they crossed 30% of the vote, they started winning mandates. Not only me, but the police, the pollsters, the officials – they all miscalculated (TVK’s reach). This election was for TV candidates – we voted for voters Vijaytle, Mr. Vijaytle, we. We did not campaign on social media and the micro-campaign that took place in our homes, seriously, that’s why even after the elections, when we asked our party members how many votes the party got in a particular booth, they didn’t tell us that people voted for TVK because they didn’t know it themselves.

Could it be the “black swan” election and the TVK “one-election” deviation?

“I am not willing to underestimate TVK. He contested, became chief minister by getting at least 100 freshmen to win as MLAs and formed a government. They may win or lose elections, but the party is here to stay. Today there is a purchase for unconventional politics across the world, compared to the traditional, established political parties in the market. Today is Trump. President of the USA Donald was a ‘unequipped’ politician”.

Mr. Karti disagreed saying that “being part of the government alone could help in the growth of the party in Tamil Nadu”. “The problem with the Congress is that we will be too nice to our senior partner. We should not shy away from highlighting people’s issues. Those who are part of the government should be part of it, but the party should continue to highlight people’s issues. We have to assert ourselves. If our (political) identity merges with that of the ruling party, their downfall would touch us.”

Published – 05 June 2026 22:10 IST