Chennai: Forward of the 2026 Meeting elections in Tamil Nadu, the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) is contemplating increasing its Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) by bringing in S. Ramadoss-led Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) and Premalatha Vijayakanth-led Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), ThePrint has learnt.

Chief Minister M.Ok. Stalin pitched the thought to alliance leaders at conferences at his residence Tuesday and Wednesday throughout his fiftieth marriage ceremony anniversary celebrations.

“The DMDK and PMK are amongst these political events that had expressed curiosity in becoming a member of the SPA. Nevertheless, our chief (Stalin) didn’t need to take a name on his personal since additionally it is about bringing consensus with the alliance companions,” the senior DMK chief mentioned, including that the alliance was all about ideologically opposing the BJP, in energy on the Centre and trying to make inroads into Tamil Nadu.

SPA companions, together with the VCK, Congress and Left events, nonetheless, remained tight-lipped in regards to the discussions on increasing the alliance. DMK leaders additionally didn’t need to make something official till issues have been extra concrete. “It’s pure to broaden the alliance forward of polls. Except the talks are sealed, it’s fundamental ethics to maintain issues discrete as it’s about belief between the political events. Regardless of the discussions be, the CM will take the ultimate name on bringing in additional events,” T.Ok.S. Elangovan, DMK spokesperson, instructed ThePrint.

Tamil Nadu Congress chief Ok. Selvaperunthagai was of the view that it could be a lift to the alliance if new events joined. “Each occasion is a worth addition to the alliance within the battle towards fascist BJP. We might welcome any occasion that joins the DMK-led alliance in Tamil Nadu,” he mentioned.

At current, there are 10 events within the SPA, together with the Congress, VCK, CPI, CPM and Kamal Haasan’s Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM). Political analysts within the state mentioned the addition of extra events to the DMK-led alliance can be a difficult job not only for the alliance companions, however for the DMK itself, on account of ideological variations and seat-sharing.

---

Additionally Learn: PMK founder Ramadoss says son Anbumani ‘held his toes & cried’ for tie-up with BJP for 2024 LS polls

---

Issues with enlargement of DMK-led alliance

Any enlargement of the SPA isn’t prone to be with out difficulties. The VCK has already acknowledged that it could not be a part of any alliance which entails PMK or BJP. The senior DMK chief talked about earlier maintained that VCK may not have an issue allying with Ramadoss.

“The rift was solely with Anbumani Ramadoss and never his father S. Ramadoss. Nonetheless, the CM doesn’t need to disrupt the present alliance. Therefore, he has sought the opinion of alliance occasion leaders,” he instructed ThePrint.

Nevertheless, when requested about it, a senior VCK chief mentioned the occasion wouldn’t settle for the inclusion of PMK. “It goes towards the ideology on which we now have constructed our occasion, in addition to our alliance. Therefore, it’s non-negotiable,” the chief mentioned.

The event additionally comes at a time when senior and junior Ramadoss are at odds over reins of PMK. Whereas Anbumani needs the occasion to hitch the BJP-led Nationwide Democratic Alliance (NDA), Ramadoss has been pushing for an alliance with out the BJP.

The DMK hasn’t made any specific overtures to the DMDK and PMK concerning becoming a member of the SPA. Nevertheless, on 31 July, after Stalin was discharged from hospital after a quick sickness, DMDK’s Premalatha met him at his residence and enquired about his well-being.

The DMDK has by no means allied with the DMK up to now and was a part of the AIADMK-led alliance throughout the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Requested about it, DMDK treasurer Sudheesh instructed ThePrint that they might announce their allegiance at a convention in Cuddalore in January 2026.

Concerning PMK, though the DMK has not held direct talks with the occasion, Selvaperunthagai had met Ramadoss at his Thailapuram residence on 27 June. Publish the assembly, he instructed the media that he had invited the PMK founder to hitch the DMK-led alliance as he was not comfy with the NDA.

The PMK was a part of the NDA on the time of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

A herculean job

Political analyst N. Sathiya Moorthy mentioned the primary problem that DMK would face with extra companions can be to persuade the present companions about their becoming a member of, for the reason that SPA was shaped to focus on “fascist ideology”.

“It’s not simply VCK which can be towards including the PMK, but in addition the Left events, together with the CPI and CPI(M). For the VCK, the addition of PMK would disrupt its vote financial institution within the northern districts the place the 2 events are arch rivals and each have a substantial vote share within the area,” he instructed ThePrint.

Analyst Raveendran Duraisamy mentioned balancing seat-sharing calls for can be downside for the DMK and that present alliance companions would demand extra seats within the meeting elections.

“VCK, CPI and CPM, which contested six seats every within the final meeting election, would demand at the very least 10 seats within the upcoming election. So, allocating seats to the brand new events would imply that DMK must scale back the variety of seats it contests itself, however that may hurt it submit outcomes. Therefore, the DMK want to at the very least retain the variety of seats it had contested in 2021,” he mentioned.

(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)

---

Additionally Learn: How BJP’s early push for alliance forward of TN polls has uncovered simmering father-son battle in PMK

---