Overview
- The MDMK's general council voted on Saturday, June 27, to leave the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance after deliberations at a high-level committee.
- Party chief Vaiko and senior leaders said the decision follows long-standing grievances over seat allocation and being forced to contest under the DMK's Rising Sun symbol.
- One MDMK MLA, Senthil Selvan, has refused to resign his Assembly seat won on the DMK symbol, which means he cannot be easily treated as a defector under India's anti-defection law.
- Vaiko and Durai Vaiko have met Chief Minister Joseph Vijay and party statements say a formal tie-up with the ruling TVK would be considered closer to election time.
- The exit further weakens the DMK's coalition after several partners shifted since the May polls and could prompt bypolls, change ministerial claims, and alter legislative arithmetic in Tamil Nadu.