Chennai, March 28 (NationPress) The Election Commission of India has declared that voting for all 234 Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu is scheduled for a single phase on April 23, paving the way for a fierce political battle in the state. As the election date approaches, the ruling DMK is anticipated to unveil its candidate list today as discussions on seat sharing with its partners are nearing resolution.

According to the timeline, the nomination process will commence on March 30 and wrap up on April 6. Votes cast on April 23 will be counted on May 4, coinciding with the announcement of results.

In this context, negotiations regarding seat distribution within the DMK-led coalition have entered their concluding stages, though some critical matters are yet to be settled.

The DMK has largely reached agreements with several allies, including the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Nadu, MDMK, and the Communist Party of India, concerning the constituencies they will contest.

However, talks are still ongoing with the Congress and the Communist Party of India (Marxist), both of which are vital partners in the coalition.

The Congress has been designated 28 seats within the DMK-led alliance. Of these, the party has consented to accept 23 constituencies but is advocating for modifications in the remaining five.

The primary contention centers around constituencies such as Srivaikuntam and Killiyoor, which the Congress had secured in the previous election but is now being contested by the DMK.

The Congress leadership has firmly resisted giving up these seats, contributing to the delay in finalizing the agreement.

In the meantime, requests from other allies have also added to the postponement. The DMDK faction led by Premalatha Vijayakanth has reportedly sought constituencies like Rishivandiyam, Virugambakkam, and Ambur.

However, the DMK is hesitant to relinquish these seats, viewing them as party strongholds.

The CPI(M), for its part, is reportedly unhappy with the reduction in the number of seats allocated to it and is advocating for constituencies where the DMK has a robust support base.

Sources within the party indicate that these three issues—negotiations with Congress, demands from the DMDK faction, and concerns from the CPI(M)—have collectively postponed the unveiling of the DMK’s candidate list.

Preparations were in place at Anna Arivalayam, the DMK headquarters, to announce the candidate list on Friday.

However, the announcement was postponed due to the lack of a final agreement with crucial allies. With efforts ongoing to achieve a consensus, sources now indicate that the DMK is poised to reach an agreeable resolution with its partners and unveil its eagerly awaited candidate list later today.