DMK Begins Seat-Sharing Talks; Congress Seeks More Seats in TN
DMK Begins Seat-Sharing Talks; Congress Seeks More Seats in TN
DMK kicks off seat-sharing talks with IUML as Congress presses for more seats; IUML seeks five seats, sparking fresh bargaining in Tamil Nadu's poll alliance.
In Chennai, the DMK's seat-sharing committee kicked off talks with the Indian Union Muslim League at Anna Arivalayam, the party's headquarters. The IUML had three seats in 2021 and is now asking for five, intensifying the bargaining as the coalition map grows more crowded.
Meanwhile, a Congress delegation pressed for more representation, even as talks with the DMK had not officially been scheduled. Congress general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal met DMK president and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin at his Alwarpet residence, accompanied by Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K. Selvaperunthagai and AICC in-charge for Tamil Nadu, Girish Chodankar. The Congress was allotted 25 seats in 2021, and discussions indicated the party's stance was to seek a larger share without a formal demand for governing power.
A DMK source indicated the party was willing to part with a Rajya Sabha seat for the Congress if needed, and the Congress delegation said it would respond after consultations. A sealed envelope from Sonia Gandhi was reportedly handed to Stalin, though no final decision was confirmed.
IUML leader Kader Mohideen told reporters the party has asked for five seats and noted that during Karunanidhi's time Muslim parties were allotted 16 constituencies; he added they hope for at least four seats.
Earlier in the day, DMK treasurer T.R. Baalu—who heads the seat-sharing committee—reportedly asked IUML leadership to scale down its demand to two seats as the DMK adjusts its own share.
The CPI(M) has been invited for seat-sharing talks on February 26, with expectations of a two-digit seat tally. With more parties seeking accommodation, the DMK faces pressure to recalibrate its own tally while trying to keep the alliance intact ahead of the polls.
