Daijiworld Media Network - Chennai
Chennai, Mar 25: On March 25 in Chennai, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) confirmed it will contest at least 165 seats in the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, following the conclusion of seat-sharing talks within the Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA), a coalition of 26 parties.
With 66 constituencies already distributed among allies, the alliance has entered the final stage of preparation ahead of the elections. Among its partners, the Indian National Congress has secured 28 seats, making it the largest ally in the DMK-led front.
Other allocations include eight seats for the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), while both the Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) have been allotted five seats each. The Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) will contest four seats, while the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and the Humanist People's Party have received two seats each.
In a notable strategic decision, Chief Minister M. K. Stalin announced that candidates from both the DMK and its allies would jointly contest 175 constituencies under the party’s ‘Rising Sun’ symbol, underscoring unity within the alliance.
In a letter addressed to party workers, Stalin explained that the seat-sharing arrangement was finalised after extensive consultations with alliance partners to ensure fairness and balance. He noted that accommodating new entrants into the alliance required careful negotiation to maximise electoral strength.
Highlighting the government’s record, Stalin pointed to the achievements of the DMK administration over the past five years, stating that the “Dravidian model” had brought stability and growth to the state following what he described as a challenging period under the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).
He also acknowledged the role of alliance partners in promoting policies centred on secularism, social justice, state autonomy, and equality.
The DMK leader revealed that over 16,500 aspirants participated in candidate selection interviews held between March 17 and 23, calling it a testament to the party’s strong grassroots base and internal democratic processes.
Calling for unity across party lines, Stalin urged DMK cadres to support all alliance candidates, stressing that success would depend on coordinated efforts across all 234 constituencies in the state.
With seat-sharing nearly complete, the DMK-led alliance is now turning its attention to campaign mobilisation, presenting a united front for the high-stakes electoral contest ahead.