Tamil Nadu polls: DMK allots 41 seats to Congress

 
DMK chief M Karunanidhi and his son and party treasurer MK Stalin and senior leaders during a meeting. (PTI Photo)

Ending intense negotiations spread over weeks, DMK Monday allotted its key ally Congress 41 seats for the May 16 Assembly polls.

The bilateral discussions to identify the constituencies each of them would contest will begin later Monday.

“We have signed (an agreement) that allots 41 seats to Congress,” senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad told reporters here after inking the deal with DMK chief M Karunanidhi.

Jointly addressing reporters along with his colleague Mukul Wasnkik, TNCC chief EVKS Elangoan and DMK leaders led by party treasurer M K Stalin, Azad said they would work to emerge victorious.

The agreement comes against the background of intense bilateral discussions between the DMK and Congress. Also, TNCC held a series of discussions with its state and central leadership. Recently, Elangovan held talks with party Vice President Rahul Gandhi as well over the issue.

It was decided by Tamil Nadu Congress to push for at least 45 seats and in a worst case scenario climb down a few seats and conclude the deal and it has worked out as was expected.

Azad said the rest of the seats would be shared among the DMK and other allies. “Of course, the major share, the number (of seats) will go to DMK but there are other allies also and DMK has already tied up with other political parties,” he added.

“This time it is the turn of the DMK-led government and I am sure under the leadership of Karunidhiji, the party will be able to form the government in Tamil Nadu,” he said, adding,all partners would work sincerely to ensure victory.

Pointing to DMK leader Stalin, he said “here is the young leadership, and we have signed 41 seats.”
Stalin referred to discussions held earlier and said, “it has been decided today that Congress will contest 41 seats as part of the DMK front and an agreement has been signed.”

He said they are confident of “driving out” AIADMK from the seat of power.

“We are confident we will achieve it,” he said.

Talks will commence this evening to identify the constituencies that would be fought by Congress and DMK, he said.

Karunanidhi and Ghulam Nabi Azad signed the pact in the presence of top leaders of both parties including Wasnik, former ministers of DMK Duraimurugan, E V Velu and party MP Kanimozhi.
With the present allotment to Congress, DMK has so far allotted 54 seats to its allies.

After its efforts to cobble up a formidable alliance by roping in actor-turned-politician Vijayakanth-led DMDK into its fold did not materialise, DMK began the exercise of speeding up work to seal ties with smaller outfits and conclude seat-sharing talks with all partners.

DMK allotted IUML, its long time ally, five seats followed by five seats to MMK, another Muslim party.

Also, it allotted one seat each to former IAS-officer led Dalit party Samuga Samathuva Padai, Tamil Nadu

Vivasayigal-Thozhilalargan Katchi and Perunthalaivar Makkal Katchi.

Totally, the DMK has allotted 54 seats to its allies out of the total 234 assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu and it is expected to identify constituencies that would be contested by them.

In Tamil Nadu, Jayalalithaa Names Constituency, Just 7 Seats For Allies

Tamil Nadu has entered unhindered election mode, with the two major competing teams deciding how to divide up seats among themselves, and Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa announcing that she will run for office from the constituency that elected her after she was acquitted in a major corruption case.

Ms Jayalalithaa, 68, will ask for another term from RK Nagar in Chennai. In June last year, she won an easy victory after a court in Bengaluru found no merit in charges that she had used an earlier term in office to collect kickbacks and vast wealth.

The Tamil Nadu assembly has 234 seats.
 

Ms Jayalalithaa's party, the ruling AIADMK, will contest 227, leaving just seven for its allies.

Her arch rival, the DMK, led by 92 -year-old MK Karunanidhi, has given just 41 seats to the Congress, a big cut - in the last state election, the Congress was allowed 63 seats by Mr Karunanidhi. Disaster ensued. The Congress won just 5 seats, giving it little leverage in this time's election.
 

The Congress and the DMK also arrived on a seat-sharing agreement on Monday. (File Photo)

Former Congress leader GK Vasan, a powerful regional force, has founded his own party and is expected to eat into the Congress' share of votes.

Meanwhile, "Captain" or actor-turned-politician Vijaykanth, is also running for Chief Minister as the leader of what's seen as Tamil Nadu's Third Front - a partnership of four parties including the 54-year-old's DMDK, Vaiko's MDMK, VCK and the Left.

Tamil Nadu votes on May 16 in a single phase poll. Results will be declared on May 19, along with the states of Assam, Bengal, Kerala and Puducherry.

Traditionally, Tamil Nadu has alternated between putting the DMK and AIADMK in government. "In Tamil Nadu, it is always one term for AIADMK and another term for the DMK. Now it is the turn of the DMK-led government and I am sure we will be able to form the government," said Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, who handled the tricky negotiations over seat-sharing for his party with Mr Karunanidhi.
   
The BJP, which did not win a single seat in the 2011 state elections, has not announced any tie-ups so far.