Captain Vijaykanth's party to review AIADMK tieup after Rajya Sabha seat delay

The regional party in Tamil Nadu founded by the late Captain Vijayakanth Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) indicated that it will take a call on its alliance strategy next year in January.

The party, which is allied with the AIADMK and the BJP, said it will decide on a continued alliance amid signs of discontent over the AIADMK's decision to defer the allocation of a Rajya Sabha seat promised to DMDK.

Speaking to reporters, DMDK general secretary Premalatha Vijayakanth said the AIADMK had given a written commitment to allot five Lok Sabha seats and one Rajya Sabha seat to the DMDK ahead of the 2024 general elections.

“This assurance was given in writing. When we asked him to specify the date, Edappadi K Palaniswami had said the year is not usually mentioned in the letter,” she said.

According to Premalatha, the AIADMK had already allotted a seat each to Dr Anbumani Ramadoss of Pattali Makkal Katchi and GK Vasan of Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopenar) in the past, and now it was the turn of her party to get a Rajya Sabha seat.

Premalatha said her party would now “fulfil its duty” by deciding on future alliances at a party meeting in Cuddalore on January 9, 2026, ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly polls.

Her statement came a day after AIADMK deputy general secretary KP Munusamy said that the DMDK remained part of the alliance and would be given a Rajya Sabha seat in 2026. On Sunday, Palaniswami too played down talk of any rift, saying the alliance was smooth and attempts to create division would not succeed.

Premalatha added that her party would soon appoint election-incharge for all 234 assembly constituencies and begin preparations for the 2026 Assembly polls.

She also thanked Chief Minister M K Stalin and the DMK for passing a resolution at their general council meeting in Madurai paying tribute to her late husband and DMDK founder ‘Captain’ Vijayakanth.