24-Feb-2024 10:47 PM
1715
Chennai, Feb 24(Reporter) The ruling DMK-led Front Tamil Nadu clinched seat sharing agreements
with its two allies, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and the Kongunadu Makkal Deisya
Katchi (KMDK), allotting one seat each to them for the ensuing Lok Sabha polls on Saturday.
Both the parties were given the same seat from which they won in the 2019 Parliamentary polls.
While the IUML was allotted the Ramanathapuram Parliamentary cosntituency held by it,
the KMDK was given the Namakkal seat.
The DMK, heading the Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA), said the KMDK will contest under
the DMK's 'Rising Sun' symbol.
Talking to reporters, IUML President K M Khader Moideen said sitting MP Nawaz Kani will
be re-elected as the candidate for the seat and a formal announcement would be made at
the party's General Council to be held in Trichy.
The DMK-led Front, which had won 39 out of the 40 seats, including the lone seat in the
Union Territory of Puducherry, in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, is eyeing for an encore
and has commenced seat sharing talks with its alliance parties.
The DMK held the second round of seat sharing talks with the MDMK, which has sought
two Lok Sabha seats and a Rajya Sabha seat.
MDMK Presidium Chairman Arjun Raj told reporters that the talks were satisfactory and
further rounds of talks will be held to finalise the seat sharing deal.
An interesting alliance scenario is likely to emerge for the polls with Makkal Needhi Maiam
of actor-politician Kamal Haasan expected to ally with the DMK-led alliance, that has Congress,
the two Left Parties--the CPI and the CPI(M)--MDMK, VCK, KMDK, Tamizhaga Vaazhvurimai
Katchi, IUML and Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK) in its fold.
The DMK had already formed various committees to hold seat sharing talks and prepare the
manifesto for the polls. The committee members also started visiting various districts to elicit
views of the public before drafting the manifesto.
It has also taken the lead by starting seat sharing talks with its allies and had already held
talks with Congress, MDMK, CPI(M), VCK and others...////...