DMK allots 10 seats for Congress in Tamil Nadu and Pondy

The DMK and the Congress on Wednesday finalised the seat-sharing deal for the ensuing Parliamentary elections with DMK allocating 10 seats, including Puducherry, to the national party. 

DMK president MK Stalin and state Congress president KS Alagiri inked the poll pact at former’s headquarters Anna Arivalayam, a day after the rival AIADMK formalised alliance with the ruling BJP by allotting five seats. 

However, the DMK did not secure an assurance from the national party for the 21-seat Assembly by poll, which the AIAMDK had successfully managed to do.

Announcing the deal, Stalin told the media that his party’s seat share has not been finalised and it would be decided after discussions with potential allies. Asked about the alliance being silent on the by-poll, Stalin said, “It will be decided after the by-poll is announced.

A “very satisfied” Congress general secretary K C Venugopal who was part of the negotiation team, said, “We are looking at full number of seats from Tamil Nadu. 

We are going to have a very strong result in Tamil Nadu.” On the choice of seats, Venugopal said, “Rahul Gandhi has given us clear instructions. We have been informally talking for a few days. The seats will be decided later.” 

The Congress delegation has also given the DMK a wish list of 20 seats to finalise the constituencies. The list includes Kanniyakumari, Sivangangai, Theni, Ramanathapuram, Tiruchy, Virudhu Nagar, Salem, Arani, Arakkonam, South Chennai, Erode, Tirunelveli, Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri. The national party has asked for one of the four reserve constituencies, Tenkasi, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram and Vilupuram constituencies, a Congress source revealed to DT Next. Meanwhile, DMK has planned to invite Vaiko’s MDMK followed by the CPIM, CPI and VCK for negotiation from Thursday. While the Marxists are likely to get a couple of seats, DMK was determined to restrict the rest to a seat each.