Both the AIADMK and DMK are unable to make any headway in finalising seat-sharing arrangements in their respective fronts owing to a slew of factors, including the reluctance of their alliance partners to climb down from their demand for a considerable number of seats.
Though there is a clear indication that actor Vijayakant's Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) will go to the polls as part of the AIADMK alliance, the stalemate over seat-sharing continues. AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa indicated, as far back as December 30, that it would only be a couple of days before the decision on alliance is announced. But, even after more than a month, she is yet to make any such announcement on the contours of the AIADMK-led front.
According to sources, the actor has demanded over 80 seats, but she is not inclined to part with more than 36.
“She in fact wanted to make an announcement on January 15, the first day of Tamil month Thai. But the actor rejected her proposal,” a party source said and wondered whether she would be in a position to do it on February 7, considered to be an auspicious day.
Since the AIADMK is not able to finalise the seat-sharing with the DMDK, other partners in the alliance are awaiting their turn.
“We are ready with the list, but have to wait till the negotiations with the DMDK are over,” said a senior Left leader. The CPI(M) and CPI have prepared the list of constituencies they wish to contest from.
“There is not much of overlapping in the constituencies we (the two Left parties) want to contest except for Tirupur,” the Left leader explained.
DMK front
As for the DMK-led front, Chief Minister and party president M. Karunanidhi on February 1 said the Congress would form a committee for seat-sharing negotiations in a day or two. The DMK has already constituted a committee, but the Congress is yet to decide on its panel.
The Chief Minister's remark that Congress president Sonia Gandhi was not keen on having the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) in the alliance has also created uncertainty about the shape of the alliance as a “hurt” PMK is not sure where it stands.
“We have sought clarification from the DMK leadership in this regard, because he has invoked the name of [Congress president] Sonia Gandhi. What will be the DMK's stand in the event of her raising the issue again?” a senior PMK leader wanted to know.
Besides the question mark on PMK, “the great expectations” of the Congress leadership on the issue of allocation of seat-sharing are also a cause for concern for the DMK leadership.
The Congress was allotted 48 seats in the 2006 Assembly polls and the DMK contested in 132, including the seats where allies fought on its symbol. The two Left parties were given 23 seats and the PMK 31. Since the two Left parties have switched camps, the DMK has 23 additional seats to apportion among all the constituents of the front.
The entry of Viduthalai Chiruthaikal Katchi (VCK), which was part of the AIADMK front in 2006, means another nine or ten seats would have to be given away from these 23. The VCK was given nine seats in the AIADMK front and would not settle for fewer seats in the DMK alliance, according to a VCK leader.
Senior Congress leaders, MPs and MLAs belonging to different factions told The Hindu that their demand for more seats was fully justified.
“The DMK enjoyed power without any disturbance. Let the DMK leadership realise that its alliance partners have made it possible. The dynamics of Tamil Nadu politics has changed and the role of small players is equally important. It is a perfect combination rather than an individual party that can ensure victory,” one Congress leader argued.
