Overview
- The MDMK’s 32nd General Council in Chennai voted unanimously on Saturday to withdraw from the DMK‑led Secular Progressive Alliance after long‑running complaints about seat allocation and being forced to contest under the DMK ‘Rising Sun’ symbol.
- MDMK leader Vaiko announced the party will not contest the pending state bypolls and will instead support the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) in those contests and in local body elections.
- The party accused the DMK of post‑election manoeuvres to weaken the MDMK and of secret deals to enable an AIADMK‑led government, charges the DMK has denied.
- The MDMK will remain a member of the national INDIA opposition bloc, and its leadership says it will cooperate with TVK on bypolls even as it keeps broader options open for future elections.
- The practical impact on assembly arithmetic is uncertain because both MDMK MLAs were elected on the DMK symbol; R. Senthilselvan has signalled he will join the DMK, T. M. Rajendran says he will remain with MDMK, and any change to numbers will depend on resignations or bypoll outcomes.