Congress ministers hit out at the DMK after facing sustained criticism for joining the TVK-led government.

After facing a barrage of criticism from the DMK after the Assembly elections for its decision to switch alliances and join the TVK-led coalition government in Tamil Nadu, Congress Ministers S. Rajeshkumar (Tourism) and P. Viswanathan (Higher Education) on Tuesday hit out at the Dravidian party. Urging the DMK to do its job as an opposition party, the ministers reiterated in a scathing joint statement that “the statement that the Congress won only because of the DMK is true only to the extent that the DMK won only because of the Congress”.

The ministers said that “victory and defeat” is natural in electoral politics and parties that lose “should identify the reasons for defeat, correct them and work to win the next election”.

The ministers said that TVK leader and Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s determination to form a government without the support of the AIADMK and with the support of the Congress, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Communist Party of India and the Muslim League of India demonstrated the party’s firm commitment to the “principles of democracy, social justice, secularism and secularism”.

“Wherever Congress and Communists are present, BJP will not be present either directly or indirectly. There will be no place for religious extremism. Secularism will face no threat. State rights will be protected. Chief Minister Mr. Joseph Vijay has understood this,” the statement said. “It is the duty of the Congress party to stand by the TVK, which remains firmly committed to secular principles.”

They argued that the DMK has always depended on the support of the Congress to come to power in the state, highlighting the past events of the party’s alliance with Rajaji’s Swatantra Party after his exit from the Congress in 1967, Indira Gandhi’s Congress in 1971, the Tamil Maanila Congress founded by GK Moopanar himself and after his exit from the Congress in 2019.

“The DMK has never won an election without an alliance, yet it has never once shared the ruling power with its alliance partners. In 2006, the DMK did not even cross the 100-seat mark. It formed the government only with the support of the Congress, yet it was unwilling to give the Congress cabinet positions. It is shocking that the party that gains power with them and which wins and forms government partners with them now refuses to share the support of all the government partners.” federalism,” the statement reads.

Referring to DMK president MK Stalin’s insistence that Tamil Nadu would not accept a coalition government, the ministers’ statement further said, “But now the TVK, which won 108 seats, has given two ministerial berths to the Congress party, which has only five MLAs. It has also given one ministerial berth each to VCK and IUML, each of which would like to see both parties get one MLA government. Power-sharing with parties that helped form the government, he is a true coalition government, which he has demonstrated through action.

It further said, “DMK must accept the people’s verdict and continue its work as a responsible opposition party. Otherwise, it may not even secure opposition status in the future.”

Published – 17 Jun 2026 0:58 IST