CHENNAI: CPM state secretary P Shanmugam has signalled that the party will seek a larger share of seats in the DMK-led alliance for the 2026 Assembly election. In an interview published in the party mouthpiece Theekathir on Tuesday, Shanmugam emphasised the importance of alliance solidarity but underscored the need for a more equitable seat-sharing arrangement.
Lauding the DMK as a party that has historically valued its allies, including the CPM, he stressed the need for preserving the solidarity among the parties in the alliance. Referring to the 2021 Assembly election, Shanmugam hinted at the party’s dissatisfaction with the seat-sharing agreement and it was with reluctance that the CPM accepted the allotted seats, solely to prevent an AIADMK-BJP victory.
He said the number of seats CPM contested in 2021 was the “lowest ever” allocation to the party in an alliance. He added that such compromises should not be repeated and the DMK leadership should accommodate the CPM’s demands.
The CPM leader also linked the demand to a resolution passed during the party’s state conference, which called for contesting more seats and increasing the CPM’s strength in the Assembly. He further urged the DMK government to expedite the implementation of its promises, particularly those concerning workers, farmers, and the middle class.
Fulfilling these assurances, he said, is essential to secure a decisive victory for the DMK-led secular alliance in 2026 and prevent a resurgence of the AIADMK-BJP combine. It may be recalled that other DMK allies, including the Congress, VCK, and MDMK, have also expressed interest in contesting more seats in the upcoming polls.