Congress taps Chidambaram for Tamil Nadu seat-sharing talks with DMK

In a clear shift in strategy, the Congress high command has decided to appoint senior Tamil Nadu leader P. Chidambaram to spearhead seat-sharing discussions with the DMK for the upcoming Assembly elections.

Until now, the AICC in-charge for Tamil Nadu, Girish Chodankar, who hails from Goa, led negotiations as head of the party’s seat-sharing committee. The new arrangement signals a renewed push to close the terms of seat distribution ahead of key deadlines.

The DMK has set a March 3 deadline for the Congress to declare its position, as nominations for the Rajya Sabha elections are slated to end on March 5. Sources said senior AICC leaders, including Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and K.C. Venugopal, held a virtual meeting with Mr. Chidambaram to deputize him for talks with the DMK. He is currently at the residence of Chief Minister and DMK president M.K. Stalin for discussions, accompanied by TNCC president Selvaperunthagai.

Backchannel diplomacy between the two parties appears to be intensifying as March 3 approaches, with both sides seeking clarity to avoid last-minute uncertainty. Analysts say the shift to Chidambaram’s involvement could help bridge gaps and project a united front in Tamil Nadu ahead of the elections, while maintaining the pressure to finalize seat-sharing arrangements promptly.

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