CHENNAI: With both Dravidian majors conceding more seats to allies this time, AIADMK more than DMK, the number of constituencies contested under Tamil Nadu’s two most recognisable symbols, the Rising Sun and the Two Leaves (including allies using these symbols), has declined in 2026.
DMK gave up more strongholds to allies
The way in which the two parties shared seats with their allies shows that the DMK is more willing to concede its strongholds to its allies and instead field its own symbol in weaker constituencies where the fight would be tougher. In contrast, the AIADMK seems keen to contest from its strongholds and allot tougher seats to its allies.
Of the 66 seats the AIADMK had won in 2021, it retained 62 (94%). The DMK had won 133 in 2021, of which it retained 119 (89.5%) and gave the remaining 14 to allies. Importantly, its allies retained 24 of the 26 seats they had won, although there was some shuffling within the alliance. AIADMK's allies, meanwhile, retained only 5 of the 9 they had won, while the remaining 5 went to the AIADMK.
The tables show how the seat-sharing happened region-wise. The numbers in brackets show the constituencies won (W) in 2021.
DMK takes on more heavyweights
The ruling party's willingness to take on AIADMK's heavyweights directly is also visible in how the contest has shaped up in the constituencies where the prominent candidates of the respective parties are contesting. The first list of AIADMK included 23 names of its most prominent candidates, including general secretary and former CM Edappadi K Palaniswami and several former ministers. Of these, 19 will be contesting against DMK's candidates. This includes Palaniswami in Edappadi, SP Velumani in Thondamuthur, Dr C Vijayabaskar in Viralimalai, Kadambur C Raju in Kovilpatti, and D Jayakumar in Royapuram.
In contrast, AIADMK allotted more seats, where DMK's ministers are contesting, to its allies. Of the 27 seats allocated to the BJP, at least seven are held by sitting DMK ministers or senior functionaries. Of the 11 seats given to AMMK, three are held by strong DMK candidates, including Ma Subramanian in Saidapet, TRB Rajaa in Mannargudi, and KN Nehru in Tiruchy West. Of the five seats given to TMC, which it will contest in the BJP's symbol, three are held by DMK ministers.
[Excluding the first table, in the rest of the analyses, AIADMK (Two Leaves) and DMK (Rising Sun) include their minor allies who contested in these symbols. For region-wise analysis: 57 constituencies in Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Salem, Namakkal, Erode, Tiruppur, Nilgiris and Coimbatore are included in West, and 41 in Karur, Perambalur, Ariyalur, Tiruchy, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Pudukkottai are included in Delta. The remaining above these regions are considered north (78) and below are considered south (58)]