The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has formally written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, requesting a change in its seating arrangement in the lower house of Parliament. This move comes after the Congress party ended its long-standing alliance with the DMK in Tamil Nadu.
Background of the Alliance Split
The Congress party, which managed to win only five seats in the recently concluded Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, has extended its support to the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) for government formation. This decision effectively puts an end to the decades-old alliance between the Congress and the DMK in the state.
Implications for Parliamentary Seating
With the alliance now dissolved, the DMK has requested a reallocation of seats in the Lok Sabha to reflect its new political alignment. The party, led by Kanimozhi Karunanidhi in the lower house, previously sat alongside Congress members. The change in seating is seen as a symbolic step to mark the new political equation.
The letter to Speaker Om Birla is believed to have been sent on 7 May 2026, a day after the Congress announced its support to the TVK. The DMK has not yet commented on whether it will seek new alliances or contest future elections independently.
The development is significant as it reshapes the political landscape in Tamil Nadu, where the DMK and Congress had been allies for several decades. The Congress's decision to back the TVK, a relatively new player in state politics, has surprised many political observers.
