Seat-sharing negotiations between the DMK and its Congress ally have intensified ahead of the upcoming elections, with Chief Minister MK Stalin reportedly expressing strong reservations over the Congress party’s demands, according to sources in the DMK.
Congress general secretary KC Venugopal and former Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister TS Deo visited Chennai and met Stalin to discuss alliance terms. During the meeting, they handed over a letter said to have been sent by Rahul Gandhi outlining the Congress party’s expectations, including a share in government, allocation of 32 Assembly seats, and a Rajya Sabha berth.
Sources in Arivalayam said Stalin was taken aback after reviewing the contents of the letter and conveyed his concerns to Venugopal through DMK MP Kanimozhi.
According to reports from Tamil Janam/Dinamalar, the DMK leadership also flagged recent remarks made by Congress leaders, including Girish Chodankar, Praveen Chakravarty, and Manickam Tagore, stating that the comments were not only directed against the DMK but were also contrary to coalition norms. The DMK is said to have insisted that if the alliance is to continue smoothly, the Congress leadership should take action or at least issue a reprimand.
The DMK reportedly conveyed that it remains a strong political force capable of winning power independently but is bringing together secular parties primarily to prevent the BJP from gaining ground in Tamil Nadu.
Party sources indicated that continued criticism from the Congress camp could affect grassroots cooperation, warning that DMK cadres may not work wholeheartedly for the alliance under such circumstances. The DMK is also said to have maintained that discussions about a coalition government should arise only if it falls short of a majority, and that raising the issue prematurely would create confusion.
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The DMK leadership further pointed to developments in other states where, according to them, Congress’ strained ties with regional parties weakened both sides and enabled the BJP to form governments. Sources said the DMK conveyed concerns that a similar situation should not be allowed to emerge in Tamil Nadu.
The party is also said to have dismissed suggestions from some Congress quarters about a possible tie-up with TVK, asserting it was not under pressure and that any party is free to choose its alliances.
According to the sources, the DMK conveyed that while Congress retains a certain vote share in Tamil Nadu, it lacks the organisational machinery and cadre strength required for election management. The party reportedly emphasised that its electoral victories are driven by its own grassroots network.
Sources added that Stalin firmly indicated the DMK could allocate only up to 22 Assembly seats to the Congress in the current round of talks, while the question of a Rajya Sabha seat could be discussed at a later stage.
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