The seat sharing talks between the DMK and the MDMK for the Lok Sabha election have reached finality, and a formal announcement and inking of the pact is expected by Tuesday.
The DMK has invited potential allies for a second round of talks on Monday, but sources said numbers remained a hitch to the finalisation of a deal with parties other than the MDMK.
DMK sources, however, said they were confident of wrapping up the seat-sharing talks with the CPI and the CPI(M) on Monday.
“The MDMK will get two seats. We had offered one seat each to the CPI and the CPI(M), but they are unlikely to agree. Eventually, they are also likely to be given two seats each,” a source explained. The possibility of one of the smaller allies being given a Rajya Sabha seat is not being ruled out.
“We have been asked to meet the DMK leaders on Monday,” said CPI(M) State secretary K. Balakrishnan, who is attending the party’s central committee meeting in Delhi.
MDMK general secretary Vaiko said an agreement would be reached either on Monday or Tuesday.
“We have to convey the message to the general council of the party on March 6. Since we have taken a stand to defend the Dravidian Movement from the onslaught of the monstrous Hindutva forces, we are not going to adopt a difficult line on numbers,” said Mr. Vaiko.
Though the VCK was also invited for talks, the DMK said it would find it difficult to allot two seats to the party.
“We were supposed to meet the DMK leaders on Sunday. But it did not take place as we were not able to come to an agreement. We cannot settle for a single seat while others are being offered more,” a VCK leader said.
