2 months ago
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The ruling DMK connected Tuesday (March 24, 2026) astir wrapped up seat-sharing for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections by allocating arsenic galore arsenic 10 seats to its caller ally, DMDK (in summation to its earlier Rajya Sabha berth) and 8 constituencies to its long-time co-traveller VCK.
Makkal Needhi Maiam laminitis Kamal Haasan opted retired of the canvass fray but extended afloat enactment to the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA).
Assembly Elections LIVE updates connected March 24, 2026
The ruling enactment is apt to participate the fray successful 175 of the 234 Assembly segments successful the upcoming elections. This volition see candidates of different parties, who person agreed to contention connected the DMK’s ‘Rising Sun’ symbol.
On Tuesday greeting (March 24), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) person Thol Thirumavalavan met DMK president and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and signed the pact. In the evening, DMDK person Premallatha Vijayakant and Mr Stalin signed an statement astatine the Anna Arivalayam.
So far, the DMK has allocated 66 seats to its allies — 28 to the Congress, 10 to the DMDK, 8 to the VCK, 5 each to the CPI and CPI(M), 4 to the MDMK, and 2 each to the Indian Union Muslim League, Kongunadu Makkal Desiya Katchi (KMDK), and Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK).
Of these, some the KMDK and MMK volition contention connected the DMK’s ticket, portion the MDMK volition contention nether the ‘Rising Sun’ awesome successful 3 of the 4 seats.
As acold arsenic the DMDK is concerned, the DMK had already allocated 1 Rajya Sabha spot to it, and subsequently, enactment treasurer L.K. Sudhish was elected to the Upper House this month.
The VCK volition contention six reserved Assembly segments and 2 wide constituencies. In the 2021 election, the VCK contested from Kattumannarkoil (SC), Cheyyur (SC), Nagapattinam, Thiruporur, Arakkonam (SC), and Vanur (SC). It won 4 seats and mislaid successful Arakkonam and Vanur.
Mr. Thirumavalavan told reporters helium had discussed with Mr. Stalin the solution passed by his enactment connected Monday (March 23), seeking seats successful “two digits” for the Assembly predetermination and a Rajya Sabha spot successful 2028. He said 23 parties are portion of the SPA, which helium described arsenic an ideological confederation meant to antagonistic “right-wing spiritual forces”. At this juncture, the VCK decided to settee for 8 seats, fixed that the triumph of the confederation is arsenic important arsenic the interests of his party.
Mr. Thirumavalavan said the VCK bore greater work successful defeating the “right-wing confederation of the Sangh Parivar” arsenic good arsenic forces that distort the ideologies of Karl Marx, B.R. Ambedkar, and Periyar E.V. Ramasamy successful the sanction of opposing Dravidian politics. He said his enactment did not broach the taxable of a Rajya Sabha spot astatine contiguous due to the fact that each vacancies had been filled. The VCK would attack the DMK whenever a vacancy arose successful the future.
Ms. Premallatha, portion speaking to reporters, expressed assurance that the DMK-led confederation would triumph much than 200 seats and that Mr. Stalin would go Chief Minister again. A five-member committee volition beryllium formed connected behalf of the DMDK to clasp talks with the DMK connected the constituency list. The candidates’ database of DMDK volition beryllium released connected March 27, she said, adding her enactment had demanded a higher fig of seats but chose to settee for 10 successful the involvement of the alliance.
Later successful the day, Mr. Haasan met Mr. Stalin astatine the DMK office extending support.
In a station connected X, Mr. Stalin, portion referring to Mr. Haasan’s connection that not straight entering the electoral fray was not a sacrifice but a duty, said what Mr. Haasan had done was so a sacrifice.
He said the actor-politician’s determination had profoundly moved him and thanked the members of Makkal Needhi Maiam arsenic well. He besides requested Mr. Haasan to question crossed the State for the “forthcoming Dravidian Model 2.0 government”, which, helium said, would besides beryllium shaped by Mr. Haasan’s affection.
