CHENNAI: The ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Tuesday allotted one Rajya Sabha seat to the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), with party president and Chief Minister MK Stalin and DMDK treasurer LK Sudhish signing an agreement at the DMK headquarters.
The agreement did not specify the number of Assembly seats the DMDK will contest as part of the alliance in the upcoming state elections. Sources said these would be finalised at a later date.
Sources added that the Rajya Sabha seat allotted to the DMDK is likely to go to LK Sudhish, brother of party treasurer and general secretary Premalatha Vijayakanth. “One Rajya Sabha seat was allocated based on the agreement the two parties reached when DMDK joined the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA),” sources in the DMDK said.
Addressing reporters after signing the agreement, Sudhish said the Assembly seat-sharing arrangement would be finalised within a week. “Committee led by party’s general secretary Premalatha Vijayakanth would meet DMK’s seat-sharing committee and would hold talks,” he said.
March 5 is the last date for filing nominations for the biennial Rajya Sabha elections. Of the six seats from Tamil Nadu, the DMK can secure four based on its current strength in the Assembly.
While the DMK plans to nominate two of its own members, it has decided to allocate one seat each to the DMDK and the Congress, subject to an agreement with the latter. Likely DMK candidates include Tiruchy Siva, Constantine Ravindran and MM Abdullah.