T.N. Assembly election: CPI(M) accepts five-seat offer, signs pact with DMK

After days of hard bargaining, the CPI(M) on Monday night finally accepted the five seats offered by the DMK for the Tamil Nadu Assembly election. DMK president and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and CPI(M) State secretary P. Shanmugam signed the agreement at the Anna Arivalayam in Chennai.

“Though not satisfied, we accepted the seats because we do not want to create a favourable condition for the AIADMK-BJP combine,” Mr. Shanmugam said. The CPI(M), which was allotted six seats in the last Assembly election in the same alliance, had begun negotiations with the DMK, pitching for the allotment of double digit seats. However, the DMK, citing the entry of more parties in the alliance, refused to concede the demand.

Over the past few days, the CPI(M), under pressure from its rank and file and State secretariat, repeatedly went to the negotiation table urging that it be allotted at least the same six seats as last time. However, even a meeting with Mr. Stalin failed to break the ice, with the DMK leader remaining firm in allotting only five seats, a number it had also given the CPI.

Sources said the CPI(M) general secretary M.A. Baby had conveyed that in the interest of the INDIA bloc, the party would accept the DMK’s reduced offer. On Monday, Mr. Shanmugam and former CPI(M) State secretary K. Balakrishnan met Mr. Stalin requesting him one final time to allocate six seats. But Mr. Stalin again expressed inability to concede their demand.

Sources said at one point, the CPI(M) had even considered entering the fray in some constituencies independently and supporting the DMK-led alliance in other seats. Eventually, it came around and accepted the five seat deal.

With this, the DMK has completed seat-sharing with most of its older allies. It has yet to finalise a deal with the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and Kamal Haasan’s Makkal Needhi Maiam. The DMDK, the recent entrant to the alliance, is likely to be invited for talks subsequently.