Congress-DMK Seat-Sharing Talks Hit Deadlock Over Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections
NEW DELHI: The Congress party has formally requested 45 seats from the DMK for the upcoming Tamil Nadu assembly elections, but the MK Stalin-led ruling party is reportedly hesitant to allocate more than 25, resulting in a significant deadlock in negotiations, according to insider sources.
High-Level Meetings in Chennai and Delhi
The long-awaited seat-sharing talks between the ruling DMK and the Congress commenced on Sunday, with Congress national general secretary KC Venugopal meeting Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin at his official residence in Chennai. This was followed by a crucial meeting on Monday in Delhi, where Congress Tamil Nadu in-charge Girish Chodankar and state unit chief K Selvaperunthagai met with DMK parliamentary party leader Kanimozhi, who is also Stalin's sister.
During these discussions, the Congress leaders explicitly conveyed their desire to contest 45 out of the total 234 assembly seats. In contrast, the DMK has maintained a firm stance on offering only 25 seats, mirroring the allocation from the 2021 elections, and has yet to provide a formal response to the ally's heightened demand.
Basis of Congress's Demand and DMK's Position
The Congress's push for more seats is rooted in a detailed review of the 2021 election outcomes. In that election, the party contested 25 seats and secured victories in 18, achieving an impressive strike rate of 72%. Party insiders argue that with a stronger local presence and better consolidation in direct contests, Congress could potentially win at least 20 of the seats it previously lost if granted them this time.
On the other hand, the DMK contested 173 constituencies in 2021, winning 133 and comfortably crossing the majority mark independently, which may influence its reluctance to cede more seats. The back-to-back meetings occur amidst calls from some Tamil Nadu Congress leaders for a share in power, a prospect that Stalin has outright rejected, stating such an arrangement would not be suitable for the state.
Alliance Dynamics and Election Timeline
The DMK leads the Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) in Tamil Nadu, a coalition that includes the Congress, the DMDK, Left parties, and the VCK. The Tamil Nadu assembly elections are anticipated to be held in April, adding urgency to the resolution of this seat-sharing impasse. The ongoing negotiations highlight the delicate balance of power within the alliance and could significantly impact the electoral landscape in the state.
