Vaiyapuri Gopalsamy aka Vaiko, MK Stalin (Vaiko’s MDMK exits DMK-led alliance after nine years, cites erosion of ideological principles) NEW DELHI: Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) on Saturday announced its withdrawal from the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA), ending a nine-year association, and said it would decide on its future electoral alliances “at the appropriate time”. The decision was taken through a resolution passed at the party’s General Council meeting, ANI reported.The resolution said the MDMK had remained part of the DMK-led alliance since a High-Level Committee resolution adopted on December 3, 2017. It added that the party had joined and continued in the alliance out of ideological commitment to prevent “communal political forces” from gaining ground in Tamil Nadu and to uphold the principles of the Dravidian movement.Explaining its decision, the MDMK alleged that attempts were made during the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections to weaken its independent political identity despite its 32-year political journey. It said the party nevertheless chose to remain in the alliance and contest the elections.The resolution also referred to political developments after the Assembly election results, claiming they were contrary to the people’s mandate.”It is an open secret that arrangements were made to install the AIADMK, which had won only 47 Assembly seats, in power by forging an alliance with Hindutva communal forces. As a result, the claims that the Secular Progressive Alliance was an alliance founded on ideology and principles were rendered meaningless,” the resolution stated.The party said its office-bearers and cadres were of the view that the MDMK should no longer remain in 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 said.It further resolved that the party would take an appropriate decision on future electoral alliances at the time of elections.According to ANI, the MDMK also referred to remarks made by party general secretary Vaiko before the election results, stating that he had predicted a significant verdict from the people of Tamil Nadu.The decision comes a day after senior MDMK leaders signalled growing dissatisfaction with the party’s treatment within the alliance. PTI reported that the party’s High-Level Committee, which met on Friday, was driven by “pain” and “deep anguish” over its experience in the DMK-led alliance and had indicated that it was preparing to sever ties.Addressing a meeting in Virudhunagar on Friday, Vaiko said that despite supporting the DMK leadership and the Dravidian movement over the past nine years, his party had been treated “unfairly.””We had to compromise on our self-respect and dignity to remain in the alliance for nine years,” he said.Making an apparent reference to the DMDK, Vaiko also expressed disappointment that his party was made to contest the Assembly elections on the DMK’s “Rising Sun” symbol, while other alliance partners were allowed to use their own party symbols. PTI reported that he also felt smaller allies had received greater importance within the alliance.The MDMK contested four seats in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections under the DMK’s symbol and won two constituencies.The party’s exit adds to the challenges facing the DMK after the Assembly elections. According to ANI, several former SPA constituents, including the Congress, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), the CPI, CPI(M) and the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), have already withdrawn from the alliance and extended support to the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), enabling it to secure a majority and form the government.In the 2026 Assembly elections, the results of which were declared on May 4, the TVK emerged as the single largest party by winning 108 of the 234 seats. The DMK won 59 seats, followed by the AIADMK with 47. The Congress secured five seats, the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) four, the CPI and CPI(M) two each, the IUML and VCK two each, while the DMDK, AMMK and BJP won one seat each. The election marked the end of nearly six decades of dominance by Tamil Nadu’s two principal Dravidian parties.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. 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NEW DELHI: Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) on Saturday announced its withdrawal from the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA), ending a nine-year association, and said it would decide on its future electoral alliances “at the appropriate time”. The decision was taken through a resolution passed at the party’s General Council meeting, ANI reported.The resolution said the MDMK had remained part of the DMK-led alliance since a High-Level Committee resolution adopted on December 3, 2017. It added that the party had joined and continued in the alliance out of ideological commitment to prevent “communal political forces” from gaining ground in Tamil Nadu and to uphold the principles of the Dravidian movement.Explaining its decision, the MDMK alleged that attempts were made during the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections to weaken its independent political identity despite its 32-year political journey. It said the party nevertheless chose to remain in the alliance and contest the elections.The resolution also referred to political developments after the Assembly election results, claiming they were contrary to the people’s mandate.“It is an open secret that arrangements were made to install the AIADMK, which had won only 47 Assembly seats, in power by forging an alliance with Hindutva communal forces. As a result, the claims that the Secular Progressive Alliance was an alliance founded on ideology and principles were rendered meaningless,” the resolution stated.The party said its office-bearers and cadres were of the view that the MDMK should no longer remain in 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 said.It further resolved that the party would take an appropriate decision on future electoral alliances at the time of elections.According to ANI, the MDMK also referred to remarks made by party general secretary Vaiko before the election results, stating that he had predicted a significant verdict from the people of Tamil Nadu.The decision comes a day after senior MDMK leaders signalled growing dissatisfaction with the party’s treatment within the alliance. PTI reported that the party’s High-Level Committee, which met on Friday, was driven by “pain” and “deep anguish” over its experience in the DMK-led alliance and had indicated that it was preparing to sever ties.Addressing a meeting in Virudhunagar on Friday, Vaiko said that despite supporting the DMK leadership and the Dravidian movement over the past nine years, his party had been treated “unfairly.”“We had to compromise on our self-respect and dignity to remain in the alliance for nine years,” he said.Making an apparent reference to the DMDK, Vaiko also expressed disappointment that his party was made to contest the Assembly elections on the DMK’s “Rising Sun” symbol, while other alliance partners were allowed to use their own party symbols. PTI reported that he also felt smaller allies had received greater importance within the alliance.The MDMK contested four seats in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections under the DMK’s symbol and won two constituencies.The party’s exit adds to the challenges facing the DMK after the Assembly elections. According to ANI, several former SPA constituents, including the Congress, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), the CPI, CPI(M) and the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), have already withdrawn from the alliance and extended support to the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), enabling it to secure a majority and form the government.In the 2026 Assembly elections, the results of which were declared on May 4, the TVK emerged as the single largest party by winning 108 of the 234 seats. The DMK won 59 seats, followed by the AIADMK with 47. The Congress secured five seats, the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) four, the CPI and CPI(M) two each, the IUML and VCK two each, while the DMDK, AMMK and BJP won one seat each. The election marked the end of nearly six decades of dominance by Tamil Nadu’s two principal Dravidian parties.
