MDMK Exits DMK-Led Secular Progressive Alliance After Nine Years
NEW DELHI: The Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) has announced its withdrawal from the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA), marking the end of a nine-year partnership. The party has stated that it will decide on its future electoral alliances “at the appropriate time.”
This decision was made during a resolution passed at the party’s General Council meeting on Saturday, as reported by ANI. Since a High-Level Committee resolution was adopted on December 3, 2017, MDMK had remained part of the DMK-led alliance out of ideological commitment aimed at preventing the rise of “communal political forces” in Tamil Nadu and to uphold the principles of the Dravidian movement.
In detailing its decision, the MDMK alleged that during the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, efforts were made to undermine its independent political identity, despite its 32-year history. Nonetheless, the party chose to remain within the alliance and participate in the elections, asserting a commitment to its foundational ideals.
Political Developments Post-Elections
The resolution also highlighted significant political developments following the Assembly election results, which the MDMK claimed contradicted the people’s mandate. “It is an open secret that arrangements were made to install the AIADMK, which secured only 47 Assembly seats, in power by collaborating with Hindutva communal forces. As a result, claims that the Secular Progressive Alliance was an alliance based on ideology became meaningless,” the resolution stated.
The party’s leadership voiced a collective sentiment that MDMK should no longer maintain ties with the DMK-led alliance. “Therefore, this General Council resolves that the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) shall withdraw from the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance,” the resolution confirmed.
Future Plans and Reactions
Additionally, ANI reported that the MDMK mentioned comments made by party general secretary Vaiko prior to the election results, highlighting that he had anticipated a significant verdict from the Tamil Nadu populace.
The decision to withdraw comes on the heels of increasing dissatisfaction within the party regarding its treatment in the alliance. PTI revealed that the party’s High-Level Committee had convened on Friday, expressing “pain” and “deep anguish” over its experiences, which indicated the preparation to cut ties.
“We had to compromise on our self-respect and dignity to remain in the alliance for nine years,” Vaiko remarked during a meeting in Virudhunagar.
Vaiko also articulated disappointment over the MDMK being compelled to contest the Assembly elections on the DMK’s “Rising Sun” symbol, while other coalition partners were allowed to use their own party symbols. He felt smaller allies received greater importance within the alliance.
The 2026 Assembly Elections and Aftermath
In the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, the MDMK contested four seats under the DMK’s symbol, successfully winning two of them. The party’s exit poses further challenges for the DMK, especially after several former SPA constituents—such as Congress, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), CPI, CPI(M), and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK)—have already withdrawn from the alliance to support the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). This collaboration has enabled TVK to secure a majority and form the government.
The results declared on May 4 revealed that TVK emerged as the single largest party, winning 108 of the 234 seats. The DMK managed to secure 59 seats, with the AIADMK following at 47. Other parties had varying degrees of success, marking a significant shift in Tamil Nadu’s political landscape that had been dominated for nearly six decades by the state’s two primary Dravidian parties.
