TMC to remain independent until local polls, then align with Congress nationally

The Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC) will maintain its independent status through upcoming local body elections before transitioning into a formal working relationship with the Indian National Congress at the national level, party president G.K. Vasan said on Tuesday.

Vasan made the statement during a memorial event marking the death anniversary of G.K. Moopanar, the Congress veteran. Senior Congress leaders, including the state president, attended the ceremony to pay respects to Moopanar.

"We have maintained continuous contact with the Congress since the memorial event," Vasan said, underscoring the growing proximity between the two parties. The TMC chief emphasized that while the party would function autonomously during the local body electoral cycle, strategic coordination with Congress would commence at the national arena.

The TMC's proposed realignment signals a potential restructuring of opposition politics in the southern state, as regional and national political formations recalibrate their strategies ahead of major electoral contests. The party's decision to defer closer integration with Congress until after local body elections suggests a measured approach to coalition-building designed to preserve organizational autonomy during grassroots-level contests.