Seat-sharing negotiations within the AIADMK-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Tamil Nadu have entered a crucial phase, with the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) likely to retain the lion’s share of constituencies for the upcoming Assembly elections.
Party sources said the AIADMK, led by Edappadi K Palaniswami, is expected to contest between 160 and 170 seats out of the total 234 constituencies in the state. The move is aimed at ensuring the party secures a simple majority on its own, which requires at least 118 seats.
Palaniswami, who is heading the NDA in Tamil Nadu, has reportedly set an ambitious target of winning 210 seats and is being projected as the chief ministerial face of the alliance.
Within the alliance, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is likely to be allotted around 30 seats, an increase from the 20 it contested in the 2021 Assembly elections. The Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), led by Anbumani Ramadoss, may receive about 17 seats.
Other allies are also expected to get a limited number of constituencies. The Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK), led by TTV Dhinakaran, could be allotted around nine seats, while the Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC) headed by G K Vasan may get three seats.
Also read: NTK releases manifesto for TN polls, promises 5 capitals
Sources added that smaller parties in the alliance are likely to contest either on the AIADMK’s ‘two leaves’ symbol or the BJP’s ‘lotus’ symbol.
Senior BJP leaders indicated that Union Home Minister Amit Shah is directly involved in the negotiations. Following initial discussions with Palaniswami in New Delhi, further meetings have been held with PMK and AMMK leaders.
Union minister Piyush Goyal, who is in charge of the BJP’s Tamil Nadu election strategy, is expected to arrive in Chennai to finalise the seat-sharing arrangement.
In the 2021 Assembly elections, the AIADMK contested 179 seats and won 66, while the BJP contested 20 and secured four seats, marking its return to the Assembly after two decades.
The PMK, which had contested 23 seats and won five, has since witnessed internal divisions, with S Ramadoss and his son Anbumani taking different political paths.
With nominations set to begin shortly, the alliance is racing to conclude negotiations and present a united front ahead of the April 23 polls.
Follow us
