Congress Intensifies Demand for Greater Seat Allocation in DMK Alliance
Congress MP Manickam Tagore has forcefully reiterated his party's demand for an increased share of constituencies in its electoral alliance with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), led by Chief Minister MK Stalin, as Tamil Nadu prepares for upcoming assembly elections. Tagore emphasized that the Congress is specifically seeking constituencies that the DMK lost during the 2021 polls, asserting that "power-sharing was essential" for effective governance in the state.
Escalating Tensions Over Seat Distribution
Tagore's remarks were a direct response to comments made by DMK leader and state minister RS Raja Kannappan in Madurai on February 13. Kannappan had confidently declared that the DMK would contest 170 constituencies and secure victory in 160 seats during the forthcoming election. Reacting to this statement, Tagore, who represents Virudhunagar, posted on X: "In 2021, you contested in 173 seats and secured 133. What we are asking (now) are the seats which you failed to win."
He further reinforced the Congress's stance on governance, stating, "Power sharing is necessary. The share in power is our right. The people will decide," while sharing a video clip of Raja Kannappan's speech. In that video, Kannappan explicitly ruled out the possibility of a coalition government, expressing strong confidence that the DMK would independently win 160 seats. The Tamil Nadu Assembly comprises 234 seats, and the DMK-Congress alliance collectively won 151 seats in the 2021 elections.
Stalin's Firm Stance Against Power-Sharing
Days earlier, Chief Minister MK Stalin had firmly dismissed any notion of sharing power with allies, although he maintained that the alliance with the Congress remained "intact" and free from confusion. Stalin stated, "We also know that it will not work in Tamil Nadu; they (Congress) know it too. It is a problem created by some people. They are deliberately conspiring to see if there will be a rift in the alliance. We are not worried about it. Rahul Gandhi is not worried either."
Formal Alliance Talks Scheduled to Begin
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K Selvaperunthagai announced in Chennai that formal alliance negotiations between the Congress and the DMK are set to commence on February 22. He asserted that the INDIA bloc remains united despite attempts by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to weaken the alliance.
Selvaperunthagai told reporters, "The election process is going very, very smoothly. Negotiations are ongoing, and we are going to start on February 22. Nothing the BJP is thinking will happen. The BJP wants to pull someone out of the INDIA alliance to split the vote bank, but it will not happen. We are intact with the alliance."
Response to Political Commentary
Responding to remarks by actor-politician Vijay, who recently quipped that "SOP" in Tamil Nadu stood for "Stalin Operating Procedure," Selvaperunthagai noted that such procedures are commonplace across all political parties, downplaying the significance of the comment.
The ongoing discussions highlight the delicate balance within the DMK-Congress alliance as both parties navigate seat-sharing negotiations ahead of the Tamil Nadu assembly elections. With the DMK aiming for a dominant performance and the Congress pushing for a more substantial role, the outcome of these talks could significantly impact the political landscape in the state.
