Tamil Nadu Assembly polls: DMK in no mood to give into Congress’ demand for more seats

The ruling DMK leadership appears to be in no mood to relent or concede the higher number of seats demanded by the Congress for the 2026 Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu.

“We have made our offer clear. We are prepared to offer them 25 Assembly seats and one Rajya Sabha seat. But the Congress is demanding 39 Assembly seats and two Rajya Sabha seats. It is not possible to accommodate their demand as we have to distribute seats to new allies,” a senior DMK leader told The Hindu on Thursday (February 26, 2026).

Amid speculations that the Congress has opened a parallel channel to negotiate an alliance with actor-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), the leader said the DMK would not take the initiative for further talks with the Congress. “It is they who scaled up their demands. We can talk to them only if they come down from their position. The ball is in their court,” he made it clear.

There has been little communication between the DMK leadership and the Congress leadership in Delhi. AICC in-charge for Tamil Nadu, Girish Chodankar, had previously met DMK Parliamentary Party leader Kanimozhi Karunanidhi to explain his party’s position. This was a day after AICC general secretary K.C. Venugopal briefed DMK president and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin.

The DMK leadership is also not unduly concerned about reports that the Congress has opened channels of communication with actor Mr. Vijay’s party. “We are aware of it. But I do not think the TVK will be inclined to include the Congress, as the party is under pressure from the BJP,” the DMK leader contended.

Asked about reports that former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam was planning to join the DMK, the leader said he had expressed such a wish. “But he has not taken a final decision. We are waiting,” he added.