The DMK is reportedly reconsidering seat allocation within its alliance after a survey indicated anti-incumbency against Congress MLAs in seven of the party’s 17 sitting constituencies in Tamil Nadu.
Congress had contested 25 seats in the 2021 Assembly election as part of the DMK-led alliance and won 18. After the Erode East bypoll—held following the death of MLA E.V.K.S. Elangovan—DMK contested and won, leaving Congress with 17 MLAs at present.
For the upcoming Assembly election, Congress is said to have been allotted 28 seats in the alliance. The Tamil Nadu Congress election working committee has prepared a list of constituencies it believes are winnable, while a pro-ruling-party-backed agency has also conducted a survey assessing sitting MLAs based on performance, development work and alliance support.
The survey reportedly flagged negative public sentiment in Ooty, Vriddhachalam, Aranthangi, Nanguneri, Sivakasi, Tenkasi and Srivaikuntam. DMK is said to be weighing fielding its own candidates in such challenging seats and may reject any Congress demand to retain them, instead asking the party to propose alternative constituencies.
Meanwhile, some former Congress leaders have complained to AICC observer Mukul Wasnik that their inputs were ignored in the seat-selection process. Following this, the Delhi leadership has reportedly instructed in-charge Girish Chodankar to consider recommendations from different factions. Congress leaders are said to be aiming to retain at least 10 of their sitting seats.
