Seat-sharing negotiations within the DMK-led alliance have run into turbulence, with the party indicating it will offer fewer Assembly constituencies than it did in 2021. The move has reportedly upset the Communist parties and the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), even as the overall seat allocation is yet to be finalised.
While the number of seats has been settled only for Congress, MDMK and a few smaller parties, the DMK has not concluded talks with CPI, CPM and VCK. Sources said the DMK side has conveyed that each of these three parties may get only four seats this time, compared to six each in the previous election.
Despite three rounds of discussions, no agreement has been reached. CPM state secretary Shanmugam publicly criticised the DMK’s stance on March 14, calling it unfair, and said the party’s election committee would decide the next course of action.
The report also notes that the CPI has a new state secretary, Veerappandian, and that the DMK leadership is finding it harder to bring the parties on board. Party functionaries have warned that if a satisfactory seat count is not offered, the Communists could even consider reviving the People’s Welfare Alliance, adding to the pressure on the DMK leadership.
