Congress Establishes Committee for DMK Seat-Sharing Talks Ahead of Tamil Nadu's 2026 Assembly Election

The Congress party has established a five-member committee to begin seat-sharing negotiations with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in Tamil Nadu for the upcoming 2026 Assembly election, ending weeks of speculation about the alliance's future.

P Chidambaram, a prominent Congress leader, endorsed this decision, stating it would dispel unnecessary rumors concerning the alliance and demonstrate the solidarity between the parties in Tamil Nadu.

The committee will be headed by AICC in-charge for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Girish Chodankar. Other appointed members include party representatives Suraj Hegde and Nivedith Alva, along with Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president K Selvaperunthagai and Congress Legislative Party leader S Rajeshkumar.

According to sources within the party, the committee is anticipated to meet with DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin in the near future to officially commence discussions regarding the 2026 electoral alliance.

This announcement coincides with speculation that emerged following Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's recent telephone conversation with TVK chief Vijay after the Karur tragedy, which had sparked rumors about a potential Congress-TVK alliance.

Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin has previously affirmed that Congress remains steadfastly within the DMK alliance. During a recent event with Congress MLA K Selvaperunthagai from Sriperumbudur, he made a pointed remark that even if the TNCC chief briefly stepped away for an emergency call, "Congress is in the DMK alliance." He added, "Media may wait to write that Udhayanidhi is upset or Selvaperunthagai is absent, but that won't happen."

The Congress has participated in electoral alliances with the DMK during both the 2019 and 2024 Lok Sabha elections, as well as the 2021 Assembly election. In the 2021 polls, the party secured victories in 18 out of the 25 seats it contested.