The latest development in the political arena sees the Congress party formalizing its seat-sharing arrangement with the DMK for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, a decision conveyed by the party's general secretary, KC Venugopal, on Saturday. Under this agreement, Congress is slated to contest nine seats in Tamil Nadu and the solitary seat in Puducherry.
This collaborative framework mirrors the seat-sharing formula established in the 2019 general elections, remaining consistent with the previous arrangement. In the electoral showdown of 2019, the DMK-led coalition clinched a resounding victory, securing 38 out of the 39 Lok Sabha seats.
With regards to the upcoming polls, Venugopal affirmed Congress's commitment to supporting the candidatures put forth by its allies in the remaining 30 constituencies. He emphasized a unified stance, asserting, "DMK and Congress will fight together, go together, and win together," expressing unwavering confidence in the potential triumph of all 40 seats fielded by the alliance.
Venturing into a critique of the central government, Venugopal leveled accusations of undue interference in states governed by opposition parties, particularly applauding Tamil Nadu under the leadership of Chief Minister MK Stalin for its resilience against divisive forces and the central government's perceived anti-federal tendencies. He condemned what he perceived as targeted assaults on Tamil Nadu's dignity and reiterated the imperative of combatting the divisive and allegedly anti-people politics propagated by the BJP.
This development coincides with Kamal Haasan's Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) joining the DMK-led coalition for electioneering in the impending Lok Sabha elections. Haasan clarified that while his party wouldn't actively contest the polls, it would extend unequivocal support to the alliance.
It's worth noting that in a previous instance, the ruling DMK had allocated two Lok Sabha seats each to the CPI and CPI (M) last month, signaling a broader spectrum of collaboration within the political landscape.
