This is donkey trading: BJP slams MDMK after it dumps DMK for Vijay's TVK

Published 28 June 2026 · politics

A day after the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) decided to quit the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance in Tamil Nadu, the BJP criticised the move

A day after the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) decided to quit the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance in Tamil Nadu, the BJP criticised the move, dubbing it "donkey trading". Speaking to India Today, Tamil Nadu BJP leader Vinoj P. Selvam said the state was witnessing a mockery of democracy, accusing the TVK of poaching MLAs by offering money and seats. "This is worse than horse-trading. We are entering a phase of donkey trading," he alleged. Read Full Story Selvam criticised the MDMK for walking out of the alliance, arguing that the Vaiko-led party had contested and won the April 23 Assembly elections on the DMK's 'Rising Sun' symbol, making its decision to exit the alliance unjustifiable.

"If the MDMK feels it was insulted, then Durai Vaiko, who won under the DMK alliance, should resign first," he said. He further accused the TVK of setting what he described as a dangerous precedent in Tamil Nadu's electoral politics. In a major shift in Tamil Nadu's political landscape, MDMK chief Vaiko on Saturday announced that his party would snap ties with the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance and align with Chief Minister Vijay's TVK. The decision came a day after the MDMK general council held a high-level meeting to decide the party's future course of action.

"We will support the TVK led by CM Vijay," Vaiko told reporters after announcing the party's exit from the alliance. He added that the MDMK would also back the TVK in the upcoming bypolls for six Assembly seats. Accusing the DMK, the party's long-time ally, of attempting to facilitate an AIADMK-led government, Vaiko said such a move undermined the party's professed secular ideology. In the recently concluded Assembly elections, the MDMK won two seats, while the Vijay-led TVK emerged as the single largest party with 108 seats, falling 10 short of a simple majority. The Congress, the Left Front and other smaller parties — all former allies of the DMK — subsequently extended support to Vijay, enabling him to become Chief Minister.

Although the MDMK did not formally announce support for the TVK government immediately after the election, there were visible signs of Vaiko warming to Chief Minister Vijay following the results. With Vaiko now openly backing the TVK, Tamil Nadu's political landscape is likely to witness further churn ahead of the bypolls. Ends