Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK)

The Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) was founded on 6 May 1994 by Vaiko, a veteran DMK leader and noted orator, after his expulsion from the DMK.

The MDMK follows Dravidian ideology with a strong emphasis on Tamil nationalism, state autonomy and Tamil causes, including the Sri Lankan Tamil issue. Over the years it has allied with both the DMK and AIADMK fronts.

Vaiko has served several terms in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Durai Vaiko is the party's principal secretary and a Lok Sabha member from Tiruchirappalli.

In the 2026 Assembly election the MDMK contested four seats on the DMK's Rising Sun symbol and won two — Sirkazhi (R. Senthil Selvan) and Kadayanallur (T. M. Rajendran). On 27 June 2026 its General Council voted to end the party's nine-year alliance with the DMK and back Chief Minister Vijay's TVK government. Senthil Selvan has since joined the DMK, while Rajendran continues as an MDMK MLA.

On 9 September 2026 the MDMK joined TVK, the Congress, VCK and IUML in naming the ruling coalition the Secular Social Justice Victory Alliance, with Vijay as its leader.