DMK sticks to 25+1 seat formula as Congress pushes for more in TN
DMK sticks to 25+1 seat formula as Congress pushes for more in TN
DMK maintains its offer of 25 Assembly seats + 1 Rajya Sabha seat for Congress, while Delhi talks show no breakthrough amid talks of TVK influence.
The DMK leadership in Tamil Nadu appears intent on not bending to the Congress’ demand for a larger share of seats for the 2026 Assembly elections. A senior DMK leader told this publication that the party has already laid out its offer: 25 Assembly seats and one Rajya Sabha seat. In contrast, the Congress is pressing for 39 Assembly seats and two Rajya Sabha seats. With new allies to accommodate, the DMK argues it simply cannot meet the higher demand at this juncture.
The DMK also signalled that talks cannot proceed unless the Congress lowers its position. “We have made our offer clear. We are prepared to offer them 25 Assembly seats and one Rajya Sabha seat. But the Congress is demanding 39 Assembly seats and two Rajya Sabha seats. It is not possible to accommodate their demand as we have to distribute seats to new allies,” the leader said. There has been little direct communication between the DMK leadership and Delhi in the days ahead. Earlier, AICC in-charge for Tamil Nadu Girish Chodankar met DMK Parliamentary Party leader Kanimozhi Karunanidhi to explain the Congress stance, and AICC general secretary K.C. Venugopal briefed DMK president and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin.
Amid chatter that the Congress may be exploring an alliance with actor-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vocational Kazhagam (TVK), the DMK’s position officer said there is acknowledgement of TVK but that the party is not optimistic about a tie-up with Congress, noting the TVK is under pressure from the BJP. On a possible role for former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam, the DMK leader said Panneerselvam had expressed an interest in joining the DMK, but no final decision had been taken yet. The party is waiting.
As Tamil Nadu gears up for a high-stakes election, seat-sharing remains a delicate and defining issue for the DMK and Congress. Observers say the long-standing 25+1 arrangement could hold for now, but Congress pressure to tilt the balance may persist, especially if new alliances surface ahead of the polls.
