Yet, recent developments, where second-rung Congress leaders have either critiqued the DMK or demanded a direct share in power, have stretched the seams of the alliance dangerously to the brink of a fallout between the parties. This arrangement helped the Congress reap a good harvest of MPs from Tamil Nadu in the 2024 general election. The call for a share in power could be seen as a bargaining ploy to contest more Assembly seats. If the Congress abandons the SPA for an alliance with the TVK, it would stand to lose the most, sacrificing a crucial INDIA ally that delivered the bloc its highest State tally in 2024. The Congress leadership would do better focusing on alliance cohesion, and working towards resuscitating its moribund organisational structure, rather than rocking the boat in Tamil Nadu.

Source: The Hindu February 18, 2026 00:11 UTC