As power-sharing demand gets shriller, is Tamil Nadu set for a new phase of coalitions?

India Today

22-07-2025

As Tamil Nadu heads for assembly elections next year, a new political demand is surfacing from allies of both major Dravidian parties. This time, it is not just about a share of seats but a share in power.For decades, electoral alliances in the state have largely ended at seat-sharing. Now, that boundary is being tested as calls grow louder for coalition governance and administrative authority.advertisementThe phrase that has come to define this aspiration—'a share in governance a share in authority'—was first articulated last year by the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), a key ally of the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). Leader after leader in the VCK had framed it as an ideological demand. Since then, the idea has assumed political weight, forcing even the rival AIADMK (All India Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) to respond.At his party's Kallakurichi conference last year, actor-politician Vijay had declared that allies joining his Thamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) for the 2026 polls would receive 'a share in governance and authority' if the coalition formed the government.
Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) leader Anbumani Ramadoss and Premalatha Vijayakanth of the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) have also called for a share in power from alliance partners. Both parties are widely expected to be part of the AIADMK-led front.The question now: Is Tamil Nadu ready for such a transformation politically and culturally? For decades, the state's political imagination has been shaped by strong, singular leadership. Even when allies played a crucial role in electoral victories, they were rarely given ministerial roles or meaningful responsibilities in governance. That legacy is now under challenge.In a recent interview to the Tamil media, Congress leader Trichy Velusamy declared: 'A coalition government will form in Tamil Nadu, and two Congress leaders will become ministers.' He backed it up with history, saying: 'Coalition governments are not new to Tamil Nadu. The state was the first in independent India to experiment with coalition governance. After the 1952 elections, the Congress allied with smaller parties, such as those led by Manickavel Naicker and Ramasamy Padayachi, who had just six MLAs between them, and offered them ministerial berths. Only then did C. Rajagopalachari (Rajaji) assume office as chief minister. In that sense, Tamil Nadu introduced coalition governance to India.'Velusamy also had a word of caution for the DMK. 'In a democracy, there is no big or small party. Anyone can win, anyone can lose. In 1971, the DMK won 134 seats. In 1991, it won just one. The reality is this: without allies like Congress, the communists, and VCK, the DMK cannot come to power. Without them, it can only sit in the Opposition,' he said.advertisementThe VCK, for its part, has long been vocal about the limitations of the current model. Thol. Thirumavalavan has consistently argued that sharing administrative responsibility will lead to more inclusive governance and deepen democratic practice.But the battle over coalition governance is perhaps fiercest within the AIADMK front. The party, still reeling from its 2021 assembly election defeat, is caught between the need to retain allies and the fear of conceding too much ground. The BJP and PMK, crucial for electoral math, are now expected to drive a much harder bargain—not just better seat deals but a real share in power.Union home minister Amit Shah has repeatedly said there will be a coalition government in Tamil Nadu if the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) wins the election—a demand consistently pushed back by the AIADMK. In fact, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami said that 'they were not fools to form a coalition government'—a remark not taken kindly by several BJP leaders.BJP state president Nainar Nagendran later said he had spoken to Palaniswami over the phone. He clarified that the remark was aimed at countering the DMK's claim that the BJP would swallow the AIADMK, and that there was no hidden meaning.advertisementFormer BJP state president K. Annamalai responded sharply: 'The BJP won't cheat anyone nor will it allow itself to be cheated.' He added that he had done nothing to harm the alliance.'The AIADMK can't afford to alienate its allies and at the same time cannot afford to hand over control,' said a political analyst. This contradiction is especially acute given the BJP central leadership's ambition to grow roots in southern states.The DMK, for now, appears more stable. Its leadership remains consolidated, welfare schemes have struck a chord with the electorate, and its alliance is largely intact.The bigger challenge is cultural. Tamil Nadu's political landscape has long idolised the leader as ideologue, administrator and icon. Observers say the needs and demands of coalition governance are entirely different and call for a shift from personality-driven politics to a power-sharing model.Still, the momentum is unmistakable. From the VCK and Congress to the BJP and PMK, parties that have largely played the role of minor alliance partners are articulating a shared vision of participatory governance. Whether rooted in ideology or driven by electoral compulsions, the demand for coalition governance now has a vocabulary, and perhaps growing political legitimacy. The next few months will determine whether this is merely a tactical bargaining tool or the beginning of a deeper transformation in Tamil Nadu's political landscape.advertisementSubscribe to India Today Magazine- EndsMust Watch