As Tamil Nadu gears up for its April 23 assembly polls, cracks are emerging in the DMK-led front over seat allocation. The powerhouse party has drawn a hard line, telling allies to greenlight the seat-sharing plan by March 23 or face setbacks in campaign preparations.
Time is of the essence with nominations just around the corner. Despite marathon discussions, holdouts persist among VCK, CPI(M), and DMDK, who find DMK’s numbers insufficient for their ambitions.
Thol Thirumavalavan’s VCK has led the charge publicly, venting frustration via video over skimpy seat offers. Insiders suggest backchannel diplomacy is still active, fostering hope for compromise.
CPI(M) leaders, post-strategic huddles, are grappling with a proposal lighter than hoped, yet to deliver their stance. Fresh entrant DMDK emphasizes consensus on both quantity and geography of seats.
Meanwhile, actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan’s MNM has snubbed DMK’s symbol-sharing bid, committing to its iconic torchlight. This standoff underscores the fragile dynamics within the alliance, where unity is paramount to challenge the opposition effectively.
Stakeholders are pushing for resolution, knowing prolonged discord could erode voter confidence and hand advantages to competitors in the fiercely contested state.