DMK joins hands with Congress for the 2016 assembly election in Tamil Nadu

In 2013, DMK walked out of the UPA over the Sri Lankan Tamil issue

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has joined hands with the Congress to contest the upcoming Assembly polls in Tamil Nadu. The announcement was made official by Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on Saturday.

“Our main goal is to put in place a government led by the DMK. We are sure of forming the next government under the leadership of M Karunanidhi, along with other parties,” Azad told reporters after meeting the DMK president.

He added that seat sharing talks would take place going forward.

DMK treasurer M K Stalin said, “Congress has promised full cooperation. We have  also extended an invite to the DMDK. We are hopeful of a positive response.”

DMDK joined hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. The PMK and MDMK were also a part of the alliance. Whether these parties continue to work with the BJP is something only time will tell.

DMK and the Congress have been partners before; 18 DMK MPs were a part of the United Progressive Alliance-II government. The DMK ended the alliance in 2013 over the Tamil issue in Sri Lanka.

DMK’s senior leaders Dayanidhi Maran, A Raja, T R Baalu and M K Alagiri held key portfolios in the UPA-II government, including telecom, shipping, fertilizers, and textiles .

During the 2011 Assembly elections, the Congress negotiated for 63 seats. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress and DMK fought separately, with 38 of the 39 DMK candidates losing their election deposits in Tamil Nadu.