Congress Demands 35 Seats in Tamil Nadu Elections as DMK Offers Limited Increase
In a significant development ahead of the upcoming elections, the Congress party has formally demanded 35 seats in Tamil Nadu, while the alliance leader DMK has indicated it is willing to allocate only "two or three seats" more than its 2021 allocation of 25 seats, according to multiple sources familiar with the negotiations.
High-Level Meetings and Delegation Discussions
The seat-sharing talks intensified following a meeting between AICC general secretary K C Venugopal and Chief Minister M K Stalin. Subsequently, AICC in-charge for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Girish Chodankar and TNCC chief K Selvaperunthagai visited DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi at her residence in Chennai to press for more seats.
"Congress asked for 35 seats," revealed a DMK source involved in the discussions. "Kanimozhi informed the delegation that she would consult with the chief minister regarding this demand." The meeting with Kanimozhi lasted approximately two hours, focusing on critical alliance matters.
Strategic Compromises and Revised Demands
As reported earlier, Congress has strategically decided not to raise the demand for power-sharing during these seat-sharing negotiations. In a calculated compromise, the party has instead demanded more significant posts in local bodies, including mayoral positions, as part of the alliance agreement.
Sources with direct knowledge of the DMK-Congress talks disclosed that the national party initially started with an even higher demand of 41 seats. Meanwhile, DMK opened the dialogue by stating that all allies should accept a reduction in their seat allocations since there are ten more partners in the alliance this election cycle compared to previous arrangements.
DMK's Negotiation Position and Constituency Strategy
DMK initially offered to maintain the status quo with 25 seats for Congress before indicating a possible increase of two or three additional seats. Crucially, DMK conveyed that Congress would not receive the same constituencies as in the previous election.
"We (DMK) communicated to them that we would take responsibility for some of the more challenging constituencies and provide them with comparatively easier ones," explained a source familiar with the negotiation strategy. This approach reflects DMK's attempt to balance alliance demands with electoral practicality.
New Alliance Partners and Seat Distribution Challenges
The expanded DMK alliance now includes several new political entities, creating additional pressure on seat distribution. The new entrants comprise DMDK, MNM, MJK, SDPI, Mukkulathor Pulipadai, and Kongu Ilaignar Peravai.
"We need to allocate at least seven seats to DMDK alone," emphasized a DMK leader, highlighting the mathematical challenges of satisfying multiple alliance partners within the limited total seats available.
Post-Meeting Statements and Additional Demands
Following the crucial meeting, Girish Chodankar addressed reporters, stating, "The discussions were positive and constructive." He clarified that the talks primarily focused on two key areas: the allocation of a Rajya Sabha seat for Congress and an increased allocation of seats in local governing bodies.
During the detailed discussions, the Congress delegation specifically sought 25% of seats in the forthcoming local body elections. Additionally, they requested a written assurance for a Rajya Sabha seat, according to sources present during the negotiations.
The ongoing seat-sharing talks represent a critical phase in alliance building ahead of the elections, with both parties navigating complex political calculations while attempting to maintain coalition unity against opposition forces.
