The asymmetric unit of the title compound, (C(13)H(11)Cl(2)N(2))(2)[Ni(C(4)N(2)S(2))(2)], contains one-half of a centrosymmetric [Ni(mnt)(2)] anion (where mnt is maleonitrile-dithiol-ate or 1,2-dicyano-1,2-ethyl-enedithiol-ate) and an (E)-1-(3,4-dichloro-benzyl-ideneamino)-4-methyl-pyridinium cation. In the anion, the coordination around the Ni atom is a distorted square. In the cation, the aromatic rings are oriented at a dihedral angle of 7.81 (3)°. In the crystal structure, inter-molecular C-H⋯N hydrogen bonds link the cations and anions. π-π Contacts between the nickel dithiol-ene and pyridine rings and between the benzene and pyridine rings, [centroid-centroid distances = 3.682 (3) and 3.643 (3) Å, respectively] may further stabilize the structure.