DMK delaying seat-sharing panel formation, says Karti Chidambaram

Congress MP from Sivaganga Karti Chidambaram on Friday said the DMK was delaying the formation of a committee to hold seat-sharing talks with the Congress in the State Assembly elections. 

Mr. Karti told journalists in Pudukkottai that the Congress had formed a five-member seat- sharing negotiations committee. Despite talks between DMK Parliamentary Party leader Kanimozhi Karunanidhi with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi nine days ago, the DMK was yet to form a committee.

The Congress committee was ready to hold talks but the DMK was delaying constituting its committee, he said and added that the ruling party should immediately form a committee to end any confusion on divergent views (expressed by different leaders).

He said both parties knew they would win only if they remained allies. Asked about comments that the Congress got weakened in Tamil Nadu, he accepted it was individually not in position to win an election but it was a party which would add value.

“Only if the Congress were in an alliance will the secular seal be given to that combine. If there was to be an alliance which gave confidence to the minorities, the Congress would have to be part of that,” he added.