A fresh wave of political speculation has swept Tamil Nadu, with questions being raised over whether the Congress party is rethinking its alliance with the DMK ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.

The trigger was a statement by Tamil Nadu Congress in-charge and chairman of the party’s alliance negotiation committee, Girish Chodankar. He said that TVK was ready to form an alliance with Congress in Tamil Nadu and had invited the party for talks. The remark immediately set off political ripples.

Congress is currently part of the DMK-led alliance. However, tensions between the two parties have been simmering. While Congress secured 25 seats in the last Assembly election, it is now demanding 40 seats in the upcoming polls. The DMK leadership has shown little enthusiasm for this demand. Chief Minister M. K. Stalin has already stated that a coalition government is not workable in Tamil Nadu. Yet, Congress has not softened its position. Notably, the DMK has begun seat-sharing discussions with its allies but has not formally initiated talks with Congress so far.

Against this backdrop, Chodankar’s comments strengthened speculation that Congress might be exploring alternatives.

When asked about the statement, Kanyakumari MP Vijay Vasanth initially distanced himself from it. Responding to a reporter’s query, he said Chodankar had expressed his personal view and that any final decision would be taken by the All India Congress Committee leadership, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. “We will abide by whatever decision the high command takes,” he added.

His response sparked debate. How could the remarks of a state in-charge and head of the alliance negotiation panel be termed “personal”? Political observers read his statement as an attempt to signal continuity with the DMK alliance.

However, as the controversy gathered momentum, Vijay Vasanth issued a clarification on his X handle. He said his earlier remarks had been misunderstood. What he meant, he clarified, was that the statement made by Girish Chodankar, as the party’s in-charge and chairman of the alliance talks committee, reflected the official position of the Congress high command.

The clarification marked a clear shift in tone. Having first described the remarks as a personal opinion, Vijay Vasanth now acknowledged them as reflective of the party’s official stance.

Does this mean Congress is indeed preparing for talks with TVK? Is it contemplating a break from the DMK-led alliance in Tamil Nadu?

With the Assembly elections approaching, the answers to these questions could significantly reshape the state’s political landscape.