DMDK joins DMK led alliance ahead of Tamil Nadu assembly polls

In a significant political development ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), founded by late actor-turned-politician Vijayakanth, on Thursday joined the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) for the first time in its 21-year history. The move is being seen as a major boost to the ruling party’s electoral arithmetic.
DMDK general secretary Premalatha Vijayakanth met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president M. K. Stalin at Anna Arivalayam, the DMK headquarters in Chennai, to formalise the alliance. The meeting marked a breakthrough after years of unsuccessful negotiations between the two parties.“I am very happy to welcome DMDK to the SPA,” Stalin said in a social media post, underscoring the strategic importance of the tie-up as the ruling alliance prepares for a keenly contested election.

#WATCH | DMK President MK Stalin welcomes DMDK General Secretary Premalatha Vijayakanth and DMDK Treasurer LK Sudish at DMK headquarters 'Arivalayam' in Chennai

(Video source: DMK) pic.twitter.com/7XasucqBOO

— ANI (@ANI) February 19, 2026

This is the first time that the DMDK has aligned with the DMK. Earlier attempts by the DMK to rope in the party ahead of the 2016 and 2019 elections had not materialised. The latest development signals a shift in political equations and consolidates the DMK-led front at a crucial juncture.The alliance expansion comes amid reports of tough negotiations between the DMK and its key ally, the Congress, over power-sharing arrangements. The entry of DMDK into the SPA is expected to strengthen Stalin’s bargaining position within the coalition while broadening the alliance’s social and electoral base.
The move is also seen as a setback for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which had been in talks with the DMDK in an effort to widen its footprint in the state.With political alignments rapidly taking shape, the DMDK’s decision to join hands with the DMK-led alliance could have a notable impact on the electoral landscape in Tamil Nadu, adding fresh momentum to the ruling front’s campaign strategy.