Political Chess Unfolds in Tamil Nadu as DMK-Congress, AIADMK, and BJP Engage in Lok Sabha Seat-Share Negotiations

In the lead-up to the April/May elections, Tamil Nadu witnesses a strategic game of political alliances as the state’s two prominent parties, the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the opposition All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), initiate seat-sharing talks. The complex negotiations involve current and potential allies, setting the stage for a dynamic electoral landscape.

PM Modi has made four visits already this year to Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu, boasting 39 Lok Sabha seats, has been a battleground for these political giants. In the 2019 elections, the DMK and smaller Tamil parties, aligned with the Congress, clinched 38 seats, with the remaining seat secured by the AIADMK in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and other regional outfits. As the election season approaches, both sides intensify discussions to forge new alliances.

DMK leader MK Stalin is scheduled to meet with the party’s seat-sharing committee, headed by Sriperumbudur MP TR Baalu. Simultaneously, the AIADMK reaches out to K Krishnasamy’s Puthiya Tamizhagam, a potential ally in the upcoming polls.

The BJP, which severed ties with the AIADMK in September last year, seeks to strengthen its position in the state. The party courts the Puthiya Tamizhagam, among others, after forming an alliance with the Tamil Maanila Congress led by GK Vasan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party is actively engaging with regional players, including S Ramadoss’ Pattali Makkal Katchi.

The DMK, a key member of the INDIA bloc led by the Congress, has not finalized an alliance for the upcoming election. The Congress, which contested nine seats in the previous election and won eight, is yet to formalize its collaboration with the DMK or other alliance members like the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi.

The Secular Progressive Alliance, as part of the state-level grouping, includes the Communist Party of India (CPI) and CPIM, each allocated two seats by the DMK. The alliance also features the Indian Union Muslim League and the Kongu Desa Makkal Katchi, both securing one seat each in the previous election.

Amidst these negotiations, the AIADMK, having distanced itself from the BJP, explores potential alliances with regional players like the Puthiya Tamizhagam. The BJP’s attempts to reconnect with the AIADMK face resistance, and the AIADMK challenges the BJP by daring them to field Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the state.

As the political landscape in Tamil Nadu evolves, the upcoming Lok Sabha elections promise a compelling narrative of shifting alliances, strategic maneuvers, and intense electoral dynamics.