After days of tough negotiations, the CPI(M) on Monday evening finally accepted the five seats offered by the DMK for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. DMK President and Chief Minister MK Stalin and CPI(M) State Secretary P Shanmugam signed the agreement at Anna Arivalayam in Chennai.
“Though we were not satisfied, we accepted the seats because we do not want to create favorable conditions for the AIADMK-BJP combine,” Mr. Shanmugam said. The CPI(M), which was allotted six seats in the same alliance in the last assembly elections, has entered into talks with the DMK, bidding to be allotted double-digit seats. However, the DMK, citing the entry of multiple parties into the alliance, refused to grant the request.
In recent days, the CPI(M), under pressure from its rank-and-file members and the state secretariat, has repeatedly approached the negotiating table, insisting that it be allotted at least the same six seats as last time. However, even a meeting with Mr. Stalin failed to break the ice, with the DMK leader remaining firm on allocating only five seats, a number also awarded to the CPI.
Sources said that CPI(M) general secretary MA Baby said that in the interest of the INDIA bloc, the party would accept DMK’s reduced offer. On Monday, Mr. Shanmugam and former CPI(M) state secretary K. Balakrishnan met Mr. Stalin and asked him for the allocation of six seats for the last time. But Mr. Stalin again expressed his inability to accede to their demand.
Sources said at one point the CPI(M) was even considering entering the fray in some constituencies independently and supporting the DMK-led alliance in other places. It eventually came around and took a five-figure deal.
With this, the DMK completed seat-sharing with most of its older allies. He is yet to finalize the deal with Kamal Haasan’s Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and Makkal Needhi Maiam. DMDK, a recent entrant to the alliance, is likely to be invited for talks next.
Published – 24 March 2026 0:18 IST
