TVK, post-poll partners move to institutionalise alliance with coordination committee, common minimum programme

The first meeting of the post-poll partners of the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) in Tamil Nadu, held at a private hotel in Chennai on Wednesday (July 1, 2026), signalled the formalisation of the arrangement into a political alliance.

TVK president and Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay held discussions with leaders of the Congress, IUML, VCK and MDMK on constituting a coordination committee to steer the alliance, framing a common minimum programme, and deciding on a name for the alliance.

Former Union Minister P. Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president B. Manickam Tagore, Rajya Sabha member Praveen Chakravarty, VCK president Thol. Thirumavalavan, Minister Vanni Arasu, general secretary D. Ravikumar, IUML national president K.M. Kader Mohideen, Minister A.M. Shahjahan, MDMK general secretary Vaiko, and Tiruchi Lok Sabha member Durai Vaiko were among the participants. Senior TVK leaders, including Ministers N. Anand, Aadhav Arjuna and R. Nirmalkumar, also attended the session.

C. Joseph Vijay with IUML president K.M. Kader Mohideen (Left) and Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president B. Manickam Tagore

The meeting lasted for more than an hour. Addressing a joint press conference after the meeting, Mr. Tagore said it was the first round of discussions and all the parties had shared their views. The meeting, held nearly 50 days after the formation of the government, took place in a positive and friendly atmosphere, said Mr. Tagore.

He said the objective was to take the partnership to the next stage by formally constituting the alliance. The next meeting of the alliance partners would be convened soon, when the name of the alliance would also be finalised and announced.

Responding to a question on whether TVK would join the INDIA bloc, Mr. Tagore said Wednesday’s (July 1, 2026) discussions were confined to Tamil Nadu politics. A decision on TVK joining the INDIA alliance would be taken when the party secures representation in Parliament, he said.

Mr. Nirmalkumar described it as a “natural alliance” and said their partnership would smoothly move to the next stage. The decision on TVK joining the INDIA bloc would be taken by Mr. Vijay and the alliance leaders after discussions, he added.