Congress extends full support to Vijay's TVK, snaps 55-year-old alliance with DMK

CHENNAI: The Congress has announced full support for the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam led by Vijay, following the party’s historic victory in Tamil Nadu. With this decision, the 55-year-long alliance between the Congress and the DMK has formally come to an end.

The Congress made the announcement on Wednesday, clarifying that its support goes beyond the formation of the new government. The party said the alliance will continue for future elections to local self-government bodies, the Lok Sabha, and the Rajya Sabha.

'This alliance - founded on mutual respect, appropriate share, and shared responsibility between the two parties is not only for the formation of this government, but also for future elections to the local body organisations, the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha,' the party said in an official statement.

The Congress also stated that the alliance is formed with the condition that any communal forces that do not believe in the Constitution of India will be kept out.

Explaining the decision to part ways with the DMK, Congress MP Jyothimani said that forming and breaking alliances is a natural part of politics. She pointed out that ahead of the 2014 parliamentary elections, the DMK had removed Congress from the alliance and chosen to contest independently.