'Congress stabbed DMK in the Back': PM Modi attacks alliance shift in Tamil Nadu

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (May 10, 2026) launched a sharp attack on Congress, accusing it of betraying its long-time ally, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), in Tamil Nadu for political gain. Speaking at a public event in Bengaluru, Modi said the Congress and DMK had shared a close alliance for nearly three decades, with the DMK repeatedly helping Congress survive political crises, including during the UPA government before 2014. However, he alleged that Congress abandoned the DMK when political circumstances changed.

"Just look at the situation in Tamil Nadu right now. For 25 to 30 years, the Congress maintained a close relationship with the DMK. Time and again, the alliance with the DMK pulled the Congress out of crises; indeed, the government it led for ten years before 2014 survived largely because of the DMK. Yet, the very DMK that consistently worked for the betterment of the Congress was betrayed the moment the political winds shifted," PM Modi said.

The Prime Minister further claimed that the Congress, driven by a desire for power, “stabbed the DMK in the back” at the first opportunity and now depends on other regional parties to maintain its political relevance.

PM Modi on Congress over Lok Sabha seats

Aiming at the Congress's declining electoral fortunes, PM Modi underscored that the party, which had once won more than 400 Lok Sabha seats, was now unable to even cross the 100-seat mark despite alliances. He contrasted that with the expansion of the BJP across the country.

"Just 10 years ago, that is, before the election before the last one, we had only three MLAs in Bengal. Meaning, 10 years ago, the election that was held before the last one, there were only three MLAs. Today, the Bharatiya Janata Party is there with more than 200 legislators. Now in Kerala, too, we have reached from one to three MLAs. And when it reaches three, the day is not far when the number of BJP-NDA in Kerala will also increase from three and cross the majority mark," he said, and added that the BJP was also gradually strengthening its presence in Keralam.

The Prime Minister claimed that Congress-led governments in various states had been characterised by instability and unfulfilled assurances. Citing Karnataka as an example, he said the ruling party was preoccupied with internal conflicts rather than focusing on governance. "It is not decided how many days this Chief Minister will stay. It is not decided whether someone else will get a chance or not; they have kept it hanging," he said.

"Not only this, I am seeing their ecosystem; the process was going on in Tamil Nadu. And their ecosystem sitting in Delhi used to mislead the country, saying, "Look, the results came on the 4th, it's the 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, and a government is not being formed in Tamil Nadu." Hey, there is a full majority in Kerala, form it there. This ecosystem is silent for Kerala. The leaders are unable to decide. Whether to use a two-and-a-half-year formula or a formula of five Chief Ministers for one year each, they have not yet reached a result," PM Modi added.