With reports of the DMK and the Congress having reached a middle ground in seat-sharing talks, senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad is expected to seal the deal during a meeting with DMK president M. Karunanidhi here on Monday.
Sources said Mr. Azad played a pivotal role in convincing the Congress national leadership to settle the talks quickly.
He had met party vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday.
Earlier, the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) had communicated to the DMK that close to 40 seats would be a “great bargain”. A top DMK leader said “plus or minus two seats” was acceptable to the party. “The exact number would be decided tomorrow,” said the leader, who had steered the negotiations with the Congress high command.
The DMK also feels time was running out.
“We cannot keep talking. Our campaign has to begin. We need to release our manifesto. After finalising the numbers, there is also the issue of identifying seats,” the leader added.
The Congress holds similar views. “After finalising the numbers, identification of constituencies will take more time since the TNCC has too many factions,” said a former Union Minister.
Senior TNCC leaders feel finalising the pact with the DMK was essential to keep the Tamil Maanila Congress out.
“The TMC is yet to finalise its deal with the AIADMK. In such a scenario, no room should be left for the TMC to approach the DMK,” said a senior leader.
