DMK sets March 3 deadline for Congress to finalise seat-sharing

The ruling DMK leadership is unlikely to wait beyond March 3 for the Congress high command to make up its mind on seat-sharing for the upcoming Assembly elections. The party has set the deadline as it has to finalise before March 5, the nominees for the biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha slated for March 16.

“The last date for filing of nominations for the Rajya Sabha is March 5. If the Congress does not come forward for talks, we will go ahead and announce our candidates,” a senior DMK leader told The Hindu on Monday (March 2, 2026). The DMK, with the support of its allies, is in a position to send four candidates to the Upper House, while the AIADMK-led alliance can successfully elect two candidates.

Apart from a Rajya Sabha seat, the DMK has offered the Congress 25 Assembly seats, the same number it had given it five years ago. However, the Congress has been insisting on upwards of 35 Assembly seats (it initially pitched for 39 – one for each Lok Sabha constituency in Tamil Nadu) and two Rajya Sabha seats.

Girish Chodankar, the AICC in-charge for Tamil Nadu, who heads the Congress seat-sharing committee, had on Sunday (March 1) categorically said the DMK’s offer was “not acceptable” to the party.

Though Mr. Chodankar had described the atmosphere during the first round of talks as “positive”, he hoped the Congress’ wish list would be accepted by the DMK. “Only then can we continue our talks,” he had said.

However, the DMK leadership is of the view there was no question of allotting more than 25 Assembly seats to the Congress. What has particularly irked the DMK leadership is the Congress’ perceived favourable stance towards actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).

Mr. Chodankar said the TVK was a new party and should not be underestimated. “They are gaining traction among youngsters. They also recognise the strength of the Congress and our leader Rahul ji in Tamil Nadu,” he said.

‘DMK not worried’

A senior DMK leader, however, said the party was not unduly worried about the prospects of the Congress aligning with the TVK and maintained the leadership was prepared for any eventuality, having already stitched together a strong alliance.

Asked about earlier reports that Mr. Gandhi might participate in the DMK conference in Tiruchi this month, the DMK leader said it was a party event. “In any case, such matters will be considered only after the seat-sharing talks are concluded,” he added.