In Tamil Nadu Poll Battle, AIADMK Begins Seat-sharing Talks with BJP, DMK Seals the Deal With Allies

Chennai: Both Dravidian parties in Tamil Nadu are busy finalising seat sharing with their alliance parties. While the DMK has been more or less successful in finalising the seat sharing, the AIADMK appears to be is stuck with the BJP and DMDK.

Two rounds of talks have already taken place with actor Vijayakanth-led DMDK. Sources told News18 that AIADMK is ready to share only 12 seats but DMDK wants not less than 23 seats. The DMDK has to win not less than 12 seats to hold its party recognition as a state party. Since 2011, DMDK has not won in any election held in the state and it may lose its state party recognition and along with its symbol (Murasu) if it fails to win 12 seats.

The BJP wants not less than 33 seats but AIADMK is ready to share only 20 seats, and sources said BJP also wants some of the bell weather seats for the AIADMK in the western region. Talks are expected to be held once again between AIADMK and BJP on Tuesday.

The DMK was successful in making IUML agree for 3 seats and another Muslim party, MMK, for 2 seats. At present talks are being held with CPM and later talks are to be held with CPI. On Monday, DMK held the first round of talks with MDMK.

Meanwhile, DMK has started interviewing its own party cadres who have filed applications to contest in various constituencies. Since 8am, DMK president M K Stalin, general secretary S Durai Murugan and other senior party leaders are interviewing party cadres and once the seat sharing are finalised, the DMK will finalise its own candidates for various constituencies.

Both the Dravidian parties want to contest for not less than 180 seats each.

Apart from the two Dravidian party fronts, film actors like Kamal Hassan and Sarathkumar and their smaller parties have come together to fight the assembly elections. Hassan’s Makkal Needhi Maiam has started interviewing candidates for various constituencies.