In a significant move ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections, Congress General Secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal met with Chief Minister and DMK President M.K. Stalin at his residence on Sunday night.
The meeting, which lasted approximately 45 minutes, also saw the presence of Tamil Nadu Congress screening committee Chairman T.S. Singh Deo and state party President Selvaperunthagai K.
This high-level interaction marks a critical step toward finalising seat-sharing arrangements within the ruling Secular Progressive Alliance.
The deliberations come at a time when the political landscape in Tamil Nadu is shifting, particularly with the entry of actor-turned-politician Vijay’s party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). Despite internal murmurs within certain sections of the Congress suggesting a potential shift toward the TVK, Venugopal’s arrival in Chennai on February 17 was intended to quell speculation and reassert the strength of the DMK-Congress bond. During the visit, a private ten-minute discussion took place between Stalin, Venugopal, and Kanimozhi, where the Congress reportedly presented its preferred list of constituencies.
The DMK has already activated its dedicated seat-sharing committee to manage its diverse coalition. Earlier, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) President K.M. Kader Mohideen met with DMK representatives to formally stake a claim for five seats. The momentum is set to continue with a heavy schedule of negotiations, as talks are slated for Monday with the Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM), Manithaneya Makkal Katchi, and the MDMK, followed by a meeting with the Communist parties on February 26.
While the specific number of seats for the Congress will be hammered out in the coming days, party leaders have expressed total readiness for the negotiation process.
The 2021 Assembly elections saw the DMK-led alliance secure a dominant 159 seats, with the DMK winning 133 and the Congress contributing 18 to the tally. As the state braces for what many analysts predict will be a three-way contest, the current ruling alliance is moving swiftly to consolidate its front and resolve internal modalities before the campaign season hits full stride.
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