Chennai, March 8 (NationPress) In the lead-up to the forthcoming Assembly elections, K. Selvaperunthagai, the President of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee, announced on Sunday that the Congress party will spearhead the coalition in Puducherry, while the DMK will maintain its leadership role in Tamil Nadu.

"The Congress has consistently been a dominant political entity in Puducherry, whereas the DMK holds the primary position in Tamil Nadu," Selvaperunthagai stated during a press briefing following a strategic meeting of senior party figures at Sathyamurthy Bhavan, the Congress headquarters located in Chennai.

This meeting was convened as political entities ramp up their preparations in advance of the expected announcement of Assembly election dates for five states: Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala, West Bengal, and Assam, which are anticipated to be revealed shortly.

Selvaperunthagai also noted that as part of the seat-sharing arrangement within the DMK-led coalition, Congress will contest 28 Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu.

"We are set to compete in 28 Assembly constituencies. For the seats where we are not contesting, we will dedicate ourselves fully to ensuring the success of our coalition partners," he remarked.

The consultation saw the participation of senior Congress officials, including party observer Mukul Wasnik and senior in-charge Girish Chodankar.

Discussions during the meeting centered on electoral readiness and collaboration between the Congress units in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry as they gear up for the approaching Assembly elections.

After the meeting, Mukul Wasnik conveyed strong optimism about the coalition's electoral prospects.

"We are very confident about achieving success in the upcoming Assembly elections. Senior leaders from both Tamil Nadu and Puducherry have shared invaluable insights and suggestions during our discussions, which we have duly considered," Wasnik remarked.

When questioned about Rahul Gandhi's lack of public enthusiasm following the finalization of the alliance with the DMK, Selvaperunthagai responded that there is no reason to question Gandhi's satisfaction regarding the DMK-led coalition in Tamil Nadu.

"He (Rahul Gandhi) will undoubtedly be pleased with the formation of the alliance, though he may not feel the need to express it publicly," he added.

Girish Chodankar, a senior Congress leader, emphasized the party's grassroots organizational strength.

"The Congress boasts a robust network of booth committee members throughout the state, who are pivotal in ensuring the coalition's success in the upcoming elections," he stated.

Seat-sharing negotiations between the DMK and Congress for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections have already been finalized, with Congress receiving 28 Assembly constituencies and one Rajya Sabha seat.

Discussions regarding seat-sharing in Puducherry are also ongoing as preparations for the elections continue.