DMK offers 27 seats, awaits Congress response

The ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu, on Tuesday (March 3, 2026), marginally increased its offer to the Congress to 27 Assembly seats instead of the initial 25, and a Rajya Sabha berth for the upcoming elections in Tamil Nadu. The party is now awaiting the Congress’s response to it.

The stalemate between the Congress and the DMK over seat-sharing was eased through the mediation of senior Congress leader and former Union Minister P. Chidambaram, who met the DMK president and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin in Chennai and held discussions. The Congress is prepared to settle for 30 Assembly seats and one Rajya Sabha seat, but the DMK has increased its offer only to 27 seats.

The Chief Minister reportedly told Mr. Chidambaram that the issue could have been resolved much earlier had the Congress deputed him as mediator. He agreed to increase the number of seats to 27 “out of respect” for Mr. Chidambaram.

According to sources, Mr. Stalin explained that the DMK had significantly strengthened its organisation over the past five years and the welfare measures implemented by its government had further consolidated public support.

“The estimation of the DMK in the eyes of the people will go down if it reduces its share of seats,” the Chief Minister reportedly told Mr. Chidambaram.

On his party, Mr. Chidambaram is now awaiting the response of the Congress high command in Delhi before proceeding further with the seat-sharing talks. Meanwhile, the DMK is expected to announce the allotment of one Rajya Sabha seat to the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam, led by Premallatha Vijayakant.