The general body of the MDMK will decide on the alliance on Saturday

MDMK general secretary Vaiko on Friday (June 26, 2026) at a high-level party committee meeting in Chennai. | Photo credit: B. Velankanni Raj

With speculation that the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) will join the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)-led alliance, MDMK chief Vaiko on Friday (June 26, 2026) convened a high-level party committee to decide on the alliance change.

The final announcement of deviating from the DMK-led front will be made on Saturday after the MDMK general body meeting in Chennai.

It is expected that the MDMK may ask its two MLAs – TM Rajendran (Kadayanallur) and Senthil Selvan (Sirkazhi) – to resign from the assembly as they have been fighting for the DMK’s ‘Rising Sun’ symbol in the 2026 elections. But Mr. Senthil Selvan has reportedly decided to stay on as MLA.

The MDMK joined the DMK-led alliance in 2017 and remained in the coalition for four elections: the 2019 and 2024 Lok Sabha elections and the 2021 and 2026 assembly elections. Except for 2024, its candidates contested on the DMK symbol. In the 2024 elections, Mr Vaiko’s son Durai Vaiko contested on a separate symbol and won from Tiruchi.

The problem of the party running on its own symbol persisted in the 2026 assembly elections, but the MDMK eventually fielded its candidates on the DMK ticket.

The changing political scene of Tamil Nadu led to almost all DMK allies moving to TVK. DMK will have fewer allies if MDMK leaves the alliance.

Published – 26 Jun 2026 22:46 IST