DMDK Secures 10 Seats in DMK Coalition for Tamil Nadu Elections
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Chennai, March 24 (NationPress) In a major advancement for its political resurgence, the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), founded by the late Tamil icon Vijayakant, has successfully acquired 10 seats within the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) for the forthcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. This positions the DMDK as the third-largest entity in the coalition, trailing only the Congress, which has been granted 28 seats.
The seat allocation was concluded on Tuesday after discussions between DMK president and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and DMDK general secretary Premalatha Vijayakant at Anna Arivalayam, the DMK's headquarters in Chennai.
In addition to the Assembly seats, the DMDK has been promised a Rajya Sabha position, with party treasurer L.K. Sudhish expected to be nominated.
This agreement signifies a remarkable shift for the DMDK, which has faced challenges in sustaining its political significance in recent years.
The allocation is perceived as a tactical maneuver by the DMK to fortify its coalition by incorporating essential allies, particularly as some long-standing partners have not met their aims for double-digit seat allocations.
After the signing of the agreement, Premalatha Vijayakant refuted any rumors of covert negotiations and voiced optimism about the alliance’s electoral chances.
Expressing a positive outlook, she referenced a well-known line from actor Rajinikanth, stating, “Even if we come late, we will be the latest,” which reflects the party’s revitalized political energy. She also mentioned that the party would soon establish a committee to finalize the constituencies it intends to contest.
The DMDK has already provided a list of approximately 25 preferred constituencies to the DMK, including Virudhunagar, Virudhachalam, Gudiyatham, and Rishivandiyam—areas where the party had achieved strong results in the 2011 Assembly elections.
Reaffirming the commitment to coalition integrity, Premalatha emphasized that the DMDK would uphold “alliance dharma” and strive for the success of all coalition members.
She expressed confidence that the DMK-led alliance would capture over 200 seats in the 234-member Assembly.
With this agreement, the DMDK seems set for a political revival, enhancing its role in Tamil Nadu’s changing electoral scene while bolstering the DMK-led coalition ahead of the April 23 polls.