Coimbatore: With 10 Assembly constituencies in Coimbatore district, DMK functionaries have expressed discomfort over alliance partners seeking as many as six seats. However, party circles say an intelligence report has indicated that allocating more seats to allies may not yield the expected level of electoral success, offering some reassurance to DMK cadres.
In the previous election, the DMK failed to secure victory in any of the 10 constituencies in the district. This time, the party is aiming to win across the board, and its campaign planning in the Kongu region is being led by Senthil Balaji, who has been assigned responsibility for 39 constituencies.
According to the report, several alliance parties—including the CPI(M), CPI, Congress, Makkal Needhi Maiam, Kongunadu Makkal Desiya Katchi and DMDK—are keen to contest in Coimbatore. DMK leaders argue that giving away too many seats could weaken the coalition’s overall prospects, a point they are said to have raised during recent interactions.
DMK functionaries cited specific constituencies to underline their concerns. They noted that Congress has contested and lost twice in Coimbatore South, while MNM is also seeking the seat; they questioned whether an MNM candidate would replicate the vote share seen when Kamal Haasan contested earlier. They also recalled that in Singanallur, vote-splitting hurt the DMK, and pointed to the BJP’s Annamalai securing significant votes in the Lok Sabha election, arguing that a strong DMK candidate would be necessary if he contests.
They further said Thondamuthur would require a strong DMK nominee to take on Velumani, and urged the party leadership to consider the intelligence assessment that allies lack sufficient local strength in some segments. The leaders warned that DMK workers would have to shoulder the organisational effort and expenses, and that poor coordination among partners could affect outcomes.
