DMDK to reconsider alliance after AIADMK defers Rajya Sabha seat

NEW DELHI: The DMDK expressed dissatisfaction over AIADMK's decision to postpone the allocation of a Rajya Sabha seat to the party until 2026.

DMDK general secretary Premlatha Vijayakanth said her party would announce its alliance plans ahead of 2026 assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, during a meeting in Cuddalore on January 9, 2026.

Without directly accusing the AIADMK of breaking promises made before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Premalatha pointed out that parties like the PMK and TMC were already given Rajya Sabha seats by the AIADMK and insisted it was now DMDK’s turn.

She revealed that AIADMK had given a written commitment to allot five Lok Sabha seats and one Rajya Sabha seat to the DMDK during the 2024 elections.

However, when asked for a specific date, AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami reportedly said that such letters typically don’t mention the year.

AIADMK deputy general secretary K P Munusamy confirmed on June 1 that the DMDK remains part of the AIADMK-led alliance and would be given a Rajya Sabha seat in 2026.

Palaniswami also played down the rift, saying the alliance was intact and attempts to break it would fail. The reassurance came a day after DMDK treasurer L K Sudheesh met Palaniswami to discuss the Rajya Sabha polls.

Premalatha said politics was closely tied to elections and that her party would also act in its own interests for the 2026 Assembly polls. She announced that DMDK would soon appoint election in-charges for all 234 Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu and begin preparations.

She also thanked chief minister M K Stalin and the DMK for passing a resolution in their general council meeting in Madurai on June 1, honouring DMDK founder and late leader ‘Captain’ Vijayakanth.