New Delhi

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on the Indian National Congress after reports emerged that the party had decided to back actor-politician Vijay and his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam in government formation in Tamil Nadu, moving away from its long-time ally, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.

Reacting to the political development, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla accused Congress of repeatedly abandoning its allies and claimed the latest move marked the “last rites” of the opposition’s INDIA bloc.

In a post on X and a video statement, Poonawalla alleged that Congress has a long history of political betrayal, adding that its decision in Tamil Nadu once again exposed the fragility of opposition alliances.

He further claimed that the INDIA alliance lacked any shared ideology or long-term vision and was brought together solely by political ambition, anti-BJP sentiment, and the pursuit of power.

According to the BJP leader, the opposition grouping was already showing signs of disintegration across several states, arguing that the alliance had failed to present a united front in multiple electoral battles.

The controversy erupted after sources indicated that the Tamil Nadu Congress, during an emergency meeting of its Political Affairs Committee late Tuesday night, decided to support Vijay’s TVK in efforts to form a secular government in the state.

The move triggered a strong reaction from the DMK, which termed the decision a “backstab” by one of its oldest national allies.

DMK spokesperson Saravanan Anadurai said the Congress decision amounted to a betrayal of both the party and the mandate of Tamil Nadu voters, noting that the alliance shift came almost immediately after election results were declared.

TVK emerged as the single largest party in the 234-member Assembly with 108 seats, falling short of the majority mark by 10 seats. Congress secured five seats, while several smaller parties also won seats, making post-poll support crucial for government formation.

The DMK, which headed the outgoing government under M. K. Stalin, won 59 seats, while the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam finished with 47 seats.

READ MORE: Shah Taj Khan: The scribe who brought Science fiction to Urdu

Congress had contested the election as part of the DMK-led pre-poll alliance, while the BJP had entered the contest in partnership with the AIADMK.