CPI(M) will ask DMK for more seats, says P. Shanmugam

The Congress and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) are likely to seek more seats from the DMK for the 2026 Assembly election.

Addressing journalists in Chennai, TNCC president K. Selvaperunthagai said he would not discuss the issue in public, but he hinted that his party would bargain for a better deal than the 25 seats it got in 2021.

However, CPI(M) Tamil Nadu secretary P. Shanmugam said in Namakkal that his party would ask the DMK for more seats this time. In the 2021 election, the party had contested in six constituencies as part of the DMK-led alliance.

Mr. Selvaperunthagai said he would communicate the expectations of the TNCC to the All India Congress Committee (AICC) and the DMK leadership.

“I am the president of the TNCC. I cannot speak about it in public. I have been communicating the expectations of our leaders to the AICC. We will discuss it with our allies,” he said.

Mr. Selvaperunthagai said questions about the Congress contesting in a reduced number of seats in the DMK-led alliance over the last two Assembly elections should be answered by leaders who had allowed it to happen. “Only those who took 41 seats [2016] as against 63 seats [2011] and then those who took 25 seats [2021] after taking 41 seats should answer this question. How can I answer it? Only the AICC can take these decisions, and we will follow its guidelines,” he said.

He said there was no need to censure leaders who were speaking openly about their expectations and said the DMK-Congress alliance was strong and it had won in consecutive elections. “We have contested five elections together [including the local bodies elections] and have been successful. Why would we not continue this winning alliance? Any decision on moving out of the alliance can be taken only by the AICC,” he said.

He also responded to Leader of the Opposition and AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami’s accusation that the DMK’s allies were unable to speak freely. “He should read the newspapers every day. When the government increased the electricity tariff, we opposed the decision in the Assembly. Similarly, we opposed the increase in property and road taxes. Mr. Palaniswami doesn’t read newspapers. He doesn’t even stay in the Assembly. He talks whatever he wants,” he alleged.

After participating in the party’s special district conference in Namakkal, Mr. Shanmugam told journalists, “We have identified the constituencies where we will campaign. Other parties are carrying out a State-wide campaign to come to power. But we contest only in a few constituencies as part of an alliance. So, there is no need for a State-wide campaign for us. We will seek additional seats. We are not a party that claims to come to power immediately after getting off the ground. We know our strength…”

As for the possibility of an alliance between actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam and the AIADMK, Mr. Shanmugam said it was for the TVK to clarify.

“AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami wants to bring the TVK into the NDA. Hence, he says TVK flags are seen in his campaign meetings. While Mr. Vijay has declared that the BJP is his party’s ideological enemy, how will the TVK have an alliance with the BJP and the AIADMK,” he asked. Mr. Palaniswami should clarify whether the AIADMK would part company with the BJP if the TVK tied up with his party.