The AIADMK disclosed its seat-sharing arrangement with key allies for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, clarifying weeks of negotiations within the NDA. However, the party did not specify the number of constituencies it will contest, leaving a crucial part of the electoral puzzle unresolved. Union Minister Piyush Goyal, BJP’s Tamil Nadu election incharge, arrived in Chennai to oversee the final discussions.
Addressing the media, alliance leaders confirmed that the BJP will contest 27 seats, PMK 18, and AMMK 11 seats. Despite this progress, uncertainty lingers over AIADMK’s share, which is expected to cover the majority of the remaining constituencies. Internal deliberations are ongoing within the party to strike a balance between accommodating allies and retaining key strongholds.
Negotiations faced hurdles recently, especially over the BJP’s initial demand for more than 50 seats, including prominent constituencies like T Nagar in Chennai. The AIADMK insisted on a limited number to safeguard its core electoral base. The deadlock led AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi last week for discussions.
The ruling DMK is also progressing with its alliance-building efforts, having finalized seat-sharing with the Congress for 28 constituencies and with the CPI for five seats. Talks are ongoing with other partners like the CPM and DMDK as the Secular Progressive Alliance aims for a unified front. However, the Congress’s list of 39 preferred constituencies, many in Chennai, presents new challenges for the DMK leadership.
