| This article is part of a series on the |
| Politics of Tamil Nadu |
|---|
 |
| This article is part of a series on the |
| Politics of Tamil Nadu |
|---|
|
The Secular Progressive Alliance (abbr. SPA), also known as DMK-led Alliance, is an Indian regional political party alliance in the state of Tamil Nadu and the union territory of Puducherry led by the Dravidian party Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam founded by the former chief minister of Tamil Nadu C. N. Annadurai in 1967.
History
| Name | Period | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| DMK-led Alliance (DMK+) | 1967-2004 | |
| Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA) | 2004-2017 | [5] |
| Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) | 2017-present | [6] |
Current members
| # | Party | Abbr. | Flag | Symbol | Leader | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | DMK | 
|
|
M. K. Stalin | |
| 2 | Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam[7] | DMDK | 
|
Premalatha Vijayakant | ||
| 3 | Makkal Needhi Maiam | MNM | 
|
|
Kamal Haasan | |
| 4 | Manithaneya Makkal Katchi | MNMK | 
|
|
M. H. Jawahirullah | |
| 5 | Kongunadu Makkal Desia Katchi | KMDK | 
|
|
E. R. Eswaran | |
| 6 | Social Democratic Party of India | SDPI | 
|
|
V. M. S. Mohamed Mubarak | |
| 7 | Manithaneya Jananayaga Katchi | MJK | 
|
|
M. Thamimun Ansari | |
| 9 | Tamil Nadu Peasants and Workers Party | TNPWP |
|
|
Pon. Kumar | |
| 10 | Tamil Nadu Kongu Ilaingar Peravai | TNKIP |
|
|
U. Thaniyarasu | |
| 11 | Tamizhar Desam Katchi | TDK |
|
|
K. K. Selvakumar | |
| 12 | Adhi Tamilar Peravai | ATP |
|
|
R. Adhiyaman | |
| 13 | Mukkulathor Pulipadai | MKLP |
|
|
Karunas | |
| 14 | Makkal Viduthalai Katchi | MVK |
|
|
K. Murugavelrajan | |
| 15 | Dravida Vettri Kazhagam | DVK |
|
|
C. E. Sathya | |
| 16 | Samathuva Makkal Kazhagam | SMK |
|
|
Ernavoor Narayanan | |
| 17 | Jananayaga Muslim Makkal Party | JMMK |
|
|
Dr.M.F. Tamim | |
Indian general elections
| Duration | Election year | Allied parties | Seats won |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Progressive Alliance | |||
| 2004 | 2004 | DMK, INC, CPI(M), CPI, PMK, MDMK, IUML, CJP | 39 / 39
|
| United Progressive Alliance | |||
| 2004–2013 | 2009 | DMK, INC, VCK, IUML | 27 / 39
|
| Democratic Progressive Alliance | |||
| 2013–2016 | 2014 Indian general election in Tamil Nadu[8] | DMK, VCK, MMK, PT, IUML | 0 / 39
|
| United Progressive Alliance | |||
| 2016–2023 | 2019 Indian general election in Tamil Nadu | DMK, VCK, CPI(M), CPI, MDMK, KMDK, IUML, IJK | 38 / 39
|
| Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance | |||
| 2023–2026 | 2024 Indian general election in Tamil Nadu | DMK, INC, VCK, CPI(M), CPI, MDMK, KMDK, MNM, IUML | 39 / 39
|
| Duration | Election year | Allied parties | Contested by | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Progressive Alliance | ||||
| 2004–2013 | 2009 Indian general election | DMK, INC, VCK | INC | Won |
| DMK-VCK Alliance | ||||
| 2013–2016 | 2014 Indian general election[8] | DMK, VCK, MMK, PT | DMK | Lost |
| United Progressive Alliance | ||||
| 2016–2023 | 2019 Indian general election in Puducherry | DMK, VCK, CPI(M), CPI | INC | Won |
| Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance | ||||
| 2023–2026 | 2024 Indian general election in Puducherry | DMK, VCK, CPI(M), CPI, MNM | INC | Won |
State legislative assembly elections
| Duration | Election year | Allied parties | Seats won |
|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic Progressive Alliance | |||
ஜனநாயக முற்போக்குக் கூட்டணி
| |||
| 2004–2006 | 2006 | DMK, INC, PMK, CPI(M), CPI, PBK, IUML, FB (Vallarasu) | 163 / 234
|
| 2006–2011 | 2011 | DMK, INC, PMK, VCK, KMK, MMK, PMK, IUML | 31 / 234
|
| 2011–2016 | 2016 | DMK, INC, VCK, MMK, PT, PMK, TPWP, IUML, SSP | 98 / 234
|
| Secular Progressive Alliance | |||
| 2017–2021 | 2021 | DMK, INC, VCK, CPI, CPI(M), MMK, MDMK, PMK, KMDK, AIFB, IUML, MVK, ATP | 159 / 234
|
| 2026 | 2026 | DMK, INC, DMDK, VCK, CPI, CPI(M), IUML, MNM,MMK,KMDK,SDPI | 73 / 234
|
| Duration | Election year | Allied parties | Seats won |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Progressive Alliance | |||
| 2004–2021 | 2006 | DMK, INC, PMK, CPI | 20 / 30
|
| 2011 | DMK, INC, PMK, VCK | 9 / 30
| |
| 2016 | INC, DMK | 18 / 30
| |
| 2021 | INC, DMK, VCK, CPI, Independent | 9 / 30
| |
| Secular Progressive Alliance | |||
| 2025–2026 | 2026 | DMK | 5 / 30
|
Strength in Legislative Assembly
Tamil Nadu
| Party | Abbr. | Ideology | Seats | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | DMK | Dravidianism | 59 / 234
|
||
| Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam | DMDK | Dravidianism | 1 / 234
|
||
Puducherry
| Party | Abbr. | Ideology | Seats | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | DMK | Dravidianism | 5 / 30
| |
Strength in Lok Sabha
Tamil Nadu
| Party | Abbr. | Ideology | Seats | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | DMK | Dravidianism | 22 / 39
| |
Withdrawals
The Left parties defected to the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK)-led front in 2009 after it withdrew support to the Indian National Congress-led United Progressive Alliance coalition in the centre.
The Pattali Makkal Katchi withdrew support in 2008 over differences with the DMK but it still remained in the Congress-led UPA in the centre. But after differences over seat sharing before the 15th Lok Sabha, it withdrew support to the UPA also and crossed over to the AIADMK-led front.
The Manithaneya Makkal Katchi was formed in 2009 by the Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazagham and immediately joined the DPA. However, before the Lok Sabha elections, its demand for two Lok Sabha seats and one Rajya Sabha seat was turned down by the DMK, which offered them a lone Lok Sabha seat. The MMK withdrew from the DPA, and is now tied up with small parties like actor Sarath Kumar-led Akila Indiya Samathuva Makkal Katchi, the Puthiya Tamilzhagam and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Prior to the 2026 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election, the Tamilaga Vazhvurimai Katchi and Moovendar Munnetra Kazhagam withdrew their support from the SPA alliance.[11][12] Following the election, the Indian National Congress, which had won five seats as part of the SPA alliance, extended its support to Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam.[13][14] The Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi and Indian Union Muslim League also extended unconditional support to TVK to facilitate the formation of a government before the deadline (10 May) and avoid the imposition of President’s rule, while continuing their alliance with the DMK-led SPA.[15][16] Subsequently, the IUML and VCK joined the TVK-led coalition government, with their MLAs being sworn in as ministers. The parties also formally confirmed that they would continue as part of the SPA alliance.[17][18] Communist Party of India (Marxist) later left the alliance when M. K. Stalin stirred up a controversy by commenting on the alliance partners support for the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam led Tamil Nadu Government, saying it was after its (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) approval, CPI(M) state secretary P Shanmugam denied it saying it was an independent decision and left the alliance .[19]Communist Party of India and as well as Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam too withdrew there support and left the alliance.
Governments and legislative leaders
- Fifth Karunanidhi ministry (2006–2011)
- Narayanasamy ministry (2016–2021)
- M. K. Stalin ministry (2021–2026)
See also
Notes
References
- ^ “Dravida Munnetra Kazgham (DMK)”. Business Standard India. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
- ^ Soper, J. Christopher; Fetzer, Joel S. (2018). Religion and Nationalism in Global Perspective. Cambridge University Press. pp. 200–210. ISBN 978-1-107-18943-0.
- ^ Chakrabarty, Bidyut (2014). Communism in India: Events, Processes and Ideologies. Oxford University Press. p. 314. ISBN 978-0-199-97489-4.
- ^ “In the Dravidian heartland, a statue for Marx in the heart of Chennai: Stalin keeps the red in good humour”. The Statesman. Retrieved 28 March 2026.
- ^ “DMK launches Democratic Progressive Alliance”. TimesofIndia. 20 January 2004. Retrieved 20 January 2004.
- ^ “Lok Sabha elections 2019: DMK chief MK Stalin launches Secular Progressive Alliance”. The Times of India. 16 March 2019. Retrieved 22 March 2026.
- ^ “DMDK joins DMK alliance ahead of 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly polls”. The News Minute. 20 February 2026.
- ^ a b “DMK-led Democratic Progressive Alliance to mobilise people under ‘secular front’“. The Economic Times. 5 March 2014. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
- ^ https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/iuml-to-join-tn-cm-vijays-cabinet-am-shahjahan-to-represent-party/article71006250.ece
- ^ https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/iuml-and-vck-to-also-join-vijay-cabinet-expansion-likely-tomorrow-sources-11527767
- ^ “Tamil Nadu election 2026: Velmurugan’s Tamilaga Vazhvurimai Katchi exits DMK alliance; rules out joining NDA”. The Hindu. 22 March 2026. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
- ^ பிரிவு, இணையதளச் செய்திப் (1 April 2026). “தமிழக வாழ்வுரிமைக் கட்சிக்கு கேமரா சின்னம் ஒதுக்கீடு!”. தினமணி (in Tamil). Retrieved 12 May 2026.
- ^ “TVK seeks Congress support to form govt. in Tamil Nadu: K.C. Venugopal”. The Hindu. 5 May 2026. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
- ^ “Congress snaps ties with DMK; extends support to Vijay’s TVK, seeking ‘share’ in T.N. government”. The Hindu. 7 May 2026. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
- ^ “CPI, CPI(M) offer unconditional support to TVK for Tamil Nadu government formation”. The News Mill. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
- ^ “VCK, IUML extend unconditional support to Vijay’s TVK; alliance with DMK intact, says Thirumavalavan”. The Hindu. 9 May 2026. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
- ^ “IUML to join TVK-led Cabinet in Tamil Nadu”. The Hindu. 21 May 2026. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
- ^ “IUML And VCK To Also Join Vijay Cabinet”. 21 May 2026.
- ^ Staff, T. N. M. (8 June 2026). “CPI(M) says DMK alliance no longer exists in Tamil Nadu”. The News Minute. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
