No rift with DMK, seat negotiations soon: K Selvaperunthagai

Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president K Selvaperunthagai on Friday dismissed speculation about a rift between the Congress and its ally, the DMK, and said seat-sharing negotiations for the upcoming elections would begin within a week.

Speaking to reporters in Tiruvallur, around 45 km from Chennai, Selvaperunthagai expressed confidence that the Congress would secure the number of seats it expected in discussions with the ruling DMK. “We are not exerting any pressure on our ally. We will place our demands and the DMK will accommodate them,” he said.

Referring to DMK deputy general secretary Kanimozhi’s recent meeting with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi, the TNCC chief said the two parties were in continuous dialogue. “We are holding talks and formal negotiations will resume in about a week,” he added.

Taking a swipe at the AIADMK leadership, Selvaperunthagai contrasted Kanimozhi’s meeting with Rahul Gandhi with AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami ’s recent interaction with Union Home Minister Amit Shah . “Unlike that meeting, which was held with his face masked, Kanimozhi’s interaction with our leader was straightforward and dignified,” he remarked.

In the 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, the DMK had allotted 25 seats to the Congress as part of the alliance arrangement, of which the Congress won 18.

The TNCC chief’s remarks come amid growing political activity in the state as parties prepare for negotiations ahead of the next round of elections.