Chennai, March 24: In a significant move to strengthen its electoral coalition, the DMK has formalized a seat-sharing agreement with the VCK for the upcoming elections. Under this agreement, the DMK has allocated eight assembly seats to the VCK, a party focused on Dalit issues, in Tamil Nadu.
After several rounds of negotiations, the deal grants the VCK six reserved seats and two general seats. The agreement was officially signed at the DMK headquarters, Anna Arivalayam, in the presence of Chief Minister and DMK President M.K. Stalin and VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan.
Sources indicate that the VCK, citing its growing political significance, had strongly demanded a larger share of seats, including a two-digit allocation and a Rajya Sabha seat. However, the DMK reached a compromise by slightly increasing the party’s share compared to the last elections, though not all demands were met.
In the 2021 assembly elections, the VCK contested six seats and won four, which bolstered its position in these negotiations. The increase in seats for the 2026 elections reflects the DMK’s efforts to maintain support from its ally while also balancing the larger coalition.
With this agreement finalized, the VCK has formally agreed to contest the elections under the conditions set by the DMK, ending weeks of uncertainty regarding seat distribution discussions. This development is viewed as a significant achievement for the ruling party, which is striving to build a robust alliance ahead of the elections.
The DMK is expected to accelerate discussions with its other allies in the coming days to finalize seat allocations before the nomination process begins. Party leaders believe that solidifying the coalition quickly will facilitate election campaigning and strengthen coordination across all assembly constituencies.
Despite the agreement in Tamil Nadu, the VCK announced earlier today that it will contest three assembly seats in Puducherry independently. Thol Thirumavalavan cited ongoing delays in negotiations regarding seat distribution within the DMK-led alliance in the Union Territory as the reason for this decision.
Arpit Soni has had a passion for journalism since the beginning. Now he has turned this hobby into his profession. Arpit, who is a resident of Udaipur, enjoys editing and writing news related to journalism. He has worked as a Senior Content Producer in several important roles at Bhaskar, Patrika, Pratahkal, Punjab Kesari, and Times. Arpit completed his schooling in Udaipur and Jaipur. He has been working in the media industry for more than 10 years, and his journey is still continuing. ✍️📚
Leave a Comment