In a significant development that has shaken opposition politics, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has announced its decision to pull out of the INDIA Bloc, citing irreconcilable differences with the Indian National Congress following the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
Following the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, Udhayanidhi Stalin has officially assumed the role of the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the 17th Legislative Assembly.
The AIADMK is learnt to have sent feelers to the DMK seeking support to form a government in Tamil Nadu where the elections resulted in a hung Assembly. The DMK leadership, however, gave short shrift to the proposal, sources said. The DMK “was firm on sitting in the Opposition”, as it was not interested in going against the people’s mandate.
In a significant show of opposition unity ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, Arvind Kejriwal joined Chief Minister M. K. Stalin on the campaign trail, addressing rallies and participating in a high-energy roadshow in Chennai. The joint appearance underscores growing cooperation among regional parties seeking to strengthen their position against the BJP in key states.
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), led by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, has announced a new welfare initiative aimed at women voters, a ₹8,000 coupon scheme as part of its manifesto for the upcoming Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu.
Amid deadlock in seat-sharing talks between DMK and Congress, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram and TNCC president K Selvaperunthagai met Chief Minister and DMK president M K Stalin at his residence on Tuesday in an attempt to end the impasse. DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi was also present at the meeting.
Fresh friction between Governors and elected governments surfaced in Tamil Nadu and Kerala on Tuesday (20 January) as disputes over constitutional addresses dominated the opening of the year’s first Assembly sessions in both States.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday announced the second phase of Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, a process meant to verify and update voter lists by adding new voters and deleting ineligible ones.
Tamil Nadu Congress Legislative Party Leader and Killiyoor MLA S. Rajeshkumar has said the party’s MLAs and functionaries would urge the All India Congress Committee leadership to push for a coalition government in Tamil Nadu and seek more seats as a part of the DMK alliance in the 2026 Assembly election. In 2021, the party was allotted 25 seats in the DMK-led alliance.
