The Congress party in Tamil Nadu has formally requested a higher number of Assembly seats compared to its allocation in 2021. This request was confirmed by AICC Tamil Nadu incharge Girish Chodankar following a meeting between senior party leader K.C. Venugopal and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin in Chennai. Discussions included seat-sharing arrangements, a Rajya Sabha seat allocation, and coordination for upcoming elections.
Chodankar emphasized the party’s desire to strengthen its position within the DMK-led alliance by demanding more seats than it contested in the previous Assembly elections. In 2021, the Congress had contested 25 seats as part of the alliance. Additionally, Chodankar, along with TNCC President K. Selvaperunthagai, held a courtesy meeting with DMK Deputy General Secretary Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, indicating structured negotiations between alliance partners would occur through designated committees.
While addressing queries about power-sharing discussions, Chodankar highlighted that the immediate focus is on finalizing seat-sharing arrangements. He mentioned that detailed negotiations are yet to commence, with constituency-sharing being the primary concern before addressing other aspects. The meeting between Venugopal and Stalin reflects the ongoing political activity in Tamil Nadu as parties gear up for future elections.
The Congress leadership aims to preempt last-minute conflicts by proactively finalizing terms with the DMK well in advance. Chodankar mentioned that the Congress is awaiting confirmation from the DMK leadership for a formal meeting between the alliance negotiation committees. Once scheduled, comprehensive discussions are expected to resolve differences and establish a mutually agreeable seat-sharing formula.
