DMK Keeps its Flock Together
Deccan ChronicleChennai:The DMK sorted out all differences with its allies in the State and signed two agreements, one with its major partner, the Congress, by acceding to its demand for 10 seats, and the other with the Makkal Neethi Maiam of Kamal Haasan with a promise for a Rajya Sabha seat in 2025, on Saturday firming up the national level INDIA coalition in the process and getting set to put up an united fight to the BJP. Congress national leaders, K C Venugopal, Mukul Wasnik and Ajoy Kumar called at DMK president and Chief Minister M K Stalin, along with TNCC president K Selvaperunthogai, at the Anna Arivalayam on Saturday evening and finalized the seat sharing arrangement, under which the Congress would contest from nine constituencies in the State and the lone Puducherry seat. Of the remaining 30 seats, DMK will field candidates in 21 constituencies, VCK 2, CPI 2, CPM 2, MDMK 1, IUML 1 and Kongunadu Makkal Desiya Katchi 1 and the identification of the constituencies will be done in the next few days. While the Manithaneya Makkal Katchi’s demand for a seat had not yet been addressed so far by the DMK, sources said it would be sorted out amicably by even accommodating the party’s candidate, if they persist with that, in the DMK’s 21 seats.