AIADMK Mulling Split With NDA Amid Buzz Of DMK Alliance Against Vijay’s TVK: Sources

Last Updated:May 08, 2026, 11:51 IST

Sources said discussions around a possible DMK-AIADMK arrangement are centred on preventing TVK from claiming power after its impressive election showing.

Tamil Nadu Government Formation: The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) is exploring the possibility of leaving the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) amid growing speculation of an unprecedented political understanding with its longtime rival, the DMK, to prevent actor-turned-politician Vijay’s TVK from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.

According to party sources, the Edappadi Palaniswami-led AIADMK is considering snapping ties with the NDA if TVK fails to cross the 118-seat majority mark needed to form the government in the southern state.

Sources further said the MK Stalin-led DMK has conveyed to the AIADMK that any possibility of outside support to an AIADMK-led government would only be possible if the party cuts ties with the BJP.

The DMK, which has positioned itself strongly against the BJP, does not want to be associated with any alliance linked to the saffron party.

“For the AIADMK and DMK to come together in any form, AIADMK must first leave the NDA," DMK sources told CNN-News18.

The development follows a fractured verdict in the 234-member Assembly, where TVK emerged as the single largest party with 108 seats but fell short of the majority mark of 118. The DMK secured 59 seats, while the AIADMK won 47. Congress, which shifted support to TVK after the results, has five MLAs. However, TVK’s effective tally stands at 112 after accounting for the legal requirement for Vijay to resign from one of the two seats he contested and won.

Sources said discussions around a possible DMK-AIADMK arrangement are centred on preventing TVK from claiming power after its impressive election showing.

However, any such move is likely to depend heavily on the stand taken by the Left parties and the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), which have two MLAs each. These parties now hold the balance in the government formation exercise, with both the TVK and AIADMK camps attempting to secure their backing.

Why Is Vijay Not Able To Form Government?

Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar on Thursday once again declined TVK chief Vijay’s claim to form the government, saying the party had still not shown enough support to prove a majority in the Assembly.

During the meeting at Lok Bhavan, the Governor asked the actor-turned-politician whether his claim was based only on the expectation that smaller parties might support him later. He also raised concerns about the stability of such a government.

The Governor asked Vijay to show how he will prove a majority on the floor of the house and letters of support from the parties that he has indicated are supporting him.

TVK, however, urged the Governor to reconsider its request, arguing that there have been earlier instances where the single largest party was invited to form the government even without a clear majority.

What Tamil Nadu Numbers Say?

TVK emerged as the single largest party in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly with 108 seats, but it is still short of the 118 seats needed for a majority. Since Vijay won from two constituencies, he will have to vacate one seat, reducing the party’s effective strength to 107. With the support of five Congress MLAs, the alliance stands at 112, still six short of the majority mark of 118 in the 234-member assembly.

As a result, TVK now needs support from other parties or independents to reach the majority mark, though the final alliance picture is still unclear.

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