LS polls: MK Stalin's DMK clinches seat-sharing deal with Left in Tamil Nadu

Under the agreement both the parties were allotted two seats.

According to the agreement, the DMK allotted two seats to the CPI(M), and the pact was signed by DMK President and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K.Stalin and CPI(M) State Secretary K.Balakrishnan after the third round of talks at the DMK headquarters Anna Arivalayam here.

The DMK allotted two seats to CPI and the agreement was signed by Stalin and CPI State Unit Secretary R.Mutharasan.

The DMK had earlier finalised the seat-sharing pact with IUML and KMDK allotting one seat each--presently held by them. While IUML was allotted the Ramanathapuram seat, the KMDK was given the Namakkal seat.

IUML President K M Khader Moideen said sitting MP Nawaz Kani will be re-elected as the candidate for the seat.

The DMK-led front, which had won 39 out of the 40 seats, including the lone seat in the Union Territory of Puducherry, in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, is eyeing an encore and has commenced seat-sharing talks with its alliance parties.

The DMK Thursday held the third round of seat-sharing talks with the MDMK, which has sought two Lok Sabha seats and a Rajya Sabha seat.

An interesting alliance scenario is likely to emerge for the polls with Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) of actor-politician Kamal Haasan expected to ally with the DMK-led alliance, that has Congress, the two Left parties--the CPI and the CPI(M)--MDMK, VCK, KMDK, Tamizhaga Vaazhvurimai Katchi, IUML and Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK) in its fold.

Reports said that the Congress has been asked to allot two seats from its quota to  Kamal's party which is likely to contest under the Congress symbol. However, a final picture will emerge in the coming days.

Though speculations were rife over the last few weeks, the MNM is yet to formally announce its alliance with the DMK-led front.

The DMK had already formed various committees to hold seat-sharing talks and prepare themanifesto for the polls. The committee members also started visiting various districts to elicit the views of the public before drafting the manifesto.

It has also taken the lead by starting seat-sharing talks with its allies and has already held talks with its key allies, Congress, MDMK, VCK, and others.