Why Congress broke away from DMK in Tamil Nadu in such a hurry

Megastar Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) on Friday finally managed to cross the majority mark required to form the government in Tamil Nadu after days of political uncertainty, intense negotiations, and shifting alliance equations following a hung Assembly verdict.

- VIBHA SHARMA

The breakthrough came after the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Communist Party of India (CPI), and Communist Party of India (Marxist) - all allies of the DMK led by outgoing Chief Minister M K Stalin formally extended support to Vijay to help him attain the critical majority mark in the 234-member Assembly.

However, even before these parties officially backed the TVK, the Congress had, soon after the 4 May results, walked out of its two-decade-old alliance with the DMK and extended support to Vijay, reportedly without consulting Stalin - a move that triggered sharp tensions, with the DMK openly criticising the Congress and also seeking a separate seating arrangement in the Lok Sabha.