Chennai, Mar 23 (PTI) The AIADMK-led NDA in Tamil Nadu on Monday finalised seat-sharing arrangement for key constituents of the alliance for the April 23 Assembly polls, with the Dravidian party allotting 27 seats for BJP, 18 for PMK and 11 for AMMK.
AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, addressing a crowded press conference at party headquarters Puratchi Thalaivar MGR Maaligai, here, said talks continued with other allies as well and it will be concluded by tonight.
The names of constituencies to be contested by alliance parties will be identified soon, he said, adding the seat-sharing talks were cordial.
Elections to 234 Assembly seats in Tamil Nadu will be held on April 23. NDA’s other constituents include former union minister GK Vasan-led Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar) and IJK.
Asked about the number of seats to be contested by AIADMK, Palaniswami said talks continued with some parties and following its conclusion the information would be shared.
In the presence of leaders of alliance parties, including senior BJP leader Piyush Goyal, PMK top leader Anbumani Ramadoss and AMMK chief TTV Dhinakaran, Palaniswami described the alliance it leads as one marked by “bonding,” and called it a “victorious” combine.
He expressed confidence that the alliance would go on to win at least 210 Assembly constituencies out of the total 234.
“The alliance will win and AIADMK will form the government,” he asserted.
Ridiculing a “protracted, delayed” seat-sharing exercise involving a “war of words” between the DMK and Congress, he alleged the CPI(M), which got six seats in 2021 was now struggling to get five Assembly seats.
“Piyush Goyal, Nainar Nagenthran, L Murugan, Anbumani Ramadoss, TTV Dhinakaran came in the morning, it (seat-sharing) was decided in the afternoon and the decision is being announced in the evening; see how quickly it has happened. The AIADMK’s goal is to dislodge the DMK from the seat of power. The media did not criticise the deadlock in seat-sharing talks in the DMK front,” he said.
Hitting back at DMK’s criticism aimed at him for his Delhi visit to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah in connection with seat sharing, he wondered why DMK MP Kanimozhi met Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in the national capital recently. It has become a wont for Chief Minister M K Stalin to spread defamatory content targeting the NDA leaders if they visited Delhi, he alleged.
“Delhi visit is for sharing our opinions, to discuss Assembly polls related matters, the CM fears whenever we go to Delhi.” Targeting the DMK for blaming the AIADMK over alliance-related matters, he fired salvos at the ruling party for aligning with the Congress party which imposed the infamous Emergency (1975-77) and also invoked the MISA against detainees during that period.
PMK leader Anbumani said he went to Delhi days ago to visit Rajya Sabha for signing purposes and that he did not meet Amit Shah.
In 2021 Assembly polls, AIADMK had allotted 20 seats to the BJP; it won 4 seats. PMK was then allotted 23 seats and it won 5 seats.
Goyal said his party was very happy about the allocation of seats and added that the negotiations were smooth like it happened in a family.
Dhinakaran, who had visited the AIADMK HQ here before his expulsion in 2017, returned to the party office, after nearly 10 years, now as a leader of an alliance party. “I am very happy I can feel the presence of my beloved leader Amma here,” he said.
Nainar Nagenthran said: “We are happy with the numbers.” Anbumani Ramadoss said, “We are very confident of our victory. PMK has got 18 seats plus one RS seat; we are happy, our aim is to dislodge the anti-people DMK regime.” Leaders from other alliance parties, including IJK were present. However, TMC (M) leader GK Vasan was not present during the press conference at AIADMK office. PTI VGN JSP VGN KH
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