Congress seeks over 30 seats in DMK alliance talks

As Tamil Nadu elections approach, seat-sharing talks within the DMK-led alliance have intensified. The Congress is seeking more Assembly seats and a Rajya Sabha berth, citing organisational strength, while negotiations remain ongoing amid alliance adjustments

Chennai: With the Tamil Nadu Assembly election schedule likely to be announced soon, political activity in the state has intensified, particularly around seat-sharing negotiations within major alliances.

In the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA), discussions are under way to finalise the distribution of constituencies among partners. The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s ally, the Indian National Congress, which contested 25 seats in the last Assembly election, is now reportedly seeking more than 30 seats this time.

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The renewed demand comes amid a shifting alliance landscape. The inclusion of parties such as the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) and Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) in the broader opposition space has added complexity to the negotiations.

Sources indicated that the DMK leadership has informally advised alliance partners to be prepared for adjustments in seat allocation compared to the previous election, in view of accommodating new entrants and balancing electoral arithmetic.

Despite this, Congress leaders are understood to have pressed for a larger share, arguing that the party’s organisational base and performance in select constituencies justify a higher number of seats.

In the 2021 Assembly election, the Congress contested 25 constituencies under the DMK banner and secured a modest but significant presence in the Assembly.

Apart from Assembly constituencies, the Congress is also said to have sought one Rajya Sabha seat from the alliance’s expected tally in the upcoming Upper House elections.

The DMK-led alliance is believed to be in a position to secure up to four Rajya Sabha seats, and the Congress has reportedly conveyed its interest in being allotted one of them.

Additionally, Congress leaders are understood to have sought greater representation in local body institutions, including mayoral posts in key urban centres.

Congress in-charge Gireesh Chodankar said that the issue of a Rajya Sabha seat was being considered seriously within the alliance framework.

He added that discussions on seat-sharing were progressing and that the DMK’s seat-sharing committee would formally invite the Congress for detailed talks. However, he noted that the next round of negotiations has not yet been finalised.

Political observers believe the DMK may ultimately concede two or three additional Assembly seats to the Congress compared to the previous election, as part of a broader effort to maintain alliance unity ahead of a high-stakes electoral battle.