DMK’s push for fewer seats to allies slows down alliance talks

Chennai: DMK's insistence on allotting fewer seats to its allies and its request that some of them contest on the party's Rising Sun symbol have slowed seat-sharing talks within the alliance.

While the CPM said they have sought additional seats from DMK during the second round of talks on Tuesday, another ally MDMK has convened its high-level committee meeting on Wednesday to decide its strategy on seat sharing.




DMK's seat-sharing committee has conveyed to the MDMK that the party cannot be given more seats than it contested in the 2021 election. However, DMK has indicated that the MDMK could be allotted relatively more seats if it agrees to contest on the DMK's symbol, while the allocation would be reduced if the party insists on using its own symbol.

DMK has completed the formal seat sharing talks only with the Congress. While one round of talks have been completed with all the allies except DMDK, second round of talks were held with a few parties including CPI. Still, no consensus have been reached on the number of seats.

The DMK has been urging the parties to contest in lesser number of seats than 2021 election as newer allies have to be accomodated. As per the proposal, DMK had offered four seats each to the two left parties which was later increased to five seats, which was one less than the seats they contested last time.

Speaking to reporters after the second round of talks, CPM state secretary M Shanmugam said they had conveyed the demand for additional seats. DMK's seat-sharing committee headed by DMK treasurer T R Baalu has said the demand would be conveyed to chief minister M K Stalin, he said adding further said talks will continue on Wednesday.

Asked whether DMK asked them to "sacrifice a seat" like IUML, Shanmugam said DMK did not make any such request to his party, but agreed that the Dravidian major had explained the current situation where new alliance partners had to be accomodated.

MDMK has also sought more seats compared to 2021 election and that has insisted on contesting in its own symbol. ``We had requested the DMK to increase the allocation of seats to MDMK. But DMk shared their constraints. Our meeting on Wednesday will discuss about the issues pertaining to seat sharing and arrive at a decision," said a senior MDMK functionary.

" We want the seat sharing exercise to be completed in a diplomatic and smoother way,'' he said expressing satisfaction at the manner it was conducted so far.