CHENNAI:It’s official now. The Congress has got 41 seats in the DMK-led front in the Assembly elections. The agreement was signed by DMK president M Karunanidhi and senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on Monday. TNCC president EVKS Elangovan and Mukul Vasnik in charge of party affairs in Tamil Nadu were present on the occasion. On the DMK side, party treasurer MK Stalin, principal secretary Durai Murugan and Rajya Sabha MP Dayanidhi Maran were present.
With 41 seats for the Congress, the DMK has so far allocated 54 seats to its alliance parties. Other parties which have been accommodated in the DMK front are: Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (five seats), IUML (five seats), Perunthalaivar Makkal Katchi, Tamil Nadu Peasants and Workers Party and Samuga Samathuva Padai have been given one seat each.
Now, the DMK is left with 180 seats. Sources said the party was expecting a couple of smaller parties into its front. As such, the DMK would be contesting a major chunk of seats (180). Azad had earlier held talks with the DMK twice but could not firm up the number. Azad said that during the past two decades, Tamil Nadu never witnessed the same party ruling the State for two consecutive terms and this time, it would be the turn of the DMK. Later in the evening, the seat-sharing committees of both parties held detailed discussions on the identification of 41 constituencies for the Congress. EVKS Elangovan told mediapersons that the talks would continue on April 6 and the list of constituencies for the Congress would be announced by April 15.
‘DMK’s Turn to Rule’
Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said that during the past two decades, TN has never witnessed the same party ruling the State for two consecutive terms and this time, it would be the turn of DMK.
Rising Sun for 3 Small Players
Perunthalaivar Makkal Katchi, TN Peasants and Workers Party and Samuga Samathuva Padai have been given one seat each. These three parties would contest on the DMK symbol.