Karti Chidambaram, a prominent leader of the Indian National Congress party, defended the party's recent decision to ally with Vijay, following DMK's criticisms labeling Congress as 'backstabbers.' In an interview with NDTV, Chidambaram stated that the DMK's reaction was 'unfair criticism' and stressed that the recent electoral results indicated a clear demand for change from the electorate. The Congress party, which had been in alliance with the DMK since 2004, won only five of the 28 seats it contested in the recent elections, a significant drop from 18 seats in 2021. Chidambaram explained that the Congress leadership, after consultations, decided to support Vijay's government formation, emphasizing the need for a coalition that reflects the people's mandate. He also mentioned that this alliance could lead to Congress gaining cabinet positions, which would come with responsibilities in governance.