Published Mar 22, 2026 | 11:12 AM ⚊ Updated Mar 22, 2026 | 11:12 AM
Tamil Nadu CM MK stalin and VCK president Thol Thirumavalavan. Credit: x.com/arivalayam, x.com/thirumaofficial
Summary: DMK is facing mounting pressure within its alliance as seat-sharing talks with CPI(M) and VCK remain unresolved. While CPI(M) is refusing to settle for fewer seats, the VCK is pushing for a larger share, leading to delays and visible strain in the coalition in both Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) is struggling to finalise seat-sharing arrangements with its alliance partners ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.
At present, the DMK-led alliance comprises more than 20 parties, including the INC, VCK, MDMK, DMDK, Left and Islamic parties.
Even as seat-sharing talks with Congress witnessed prolonged delays, DMK is now facing difficulties in concluding negotiations with the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK).
The CPI(M), which contested six seats in the previous election as part of the DMK alliance, has been asked by the ruling party to settle for five seats this time during two rounds of talks. However, the party, which has been consistently demanding a double-digit seat allocation, has refused to accept this offer and remains firm on its position.
A state committee meeting of CPI(M), which went on until 1 am on Saturday, 21 March, failed to arrive at a decision and deferred the matter back to the executive committee. Another meeting of the executive committee has been scheduled for 22 March.
According to a source who attended the meeting, the Tamil Nadu state unit is strongly opposed to accepting five seats. However, the central leadership has insisted that the party should not exit the alliance under any circumstances, as it could have repercussions for alliances across India.
“The central leadership is firm that we must either push and secure six seats or contest in five seats if necessary, but under no circumstances should we go solo,” the source said, adding that no final decision has been taken yet.
Amid the ongoing deadlock between DMK and CPI(M), seat-sharing talks with another key ally, VCK, have also not been finalised.
There is growing discontent within the VCK over the way the DMK is handling the negotiations. After being recognised as a state party by the Election Commission in 2024 and being allotted the “pot” symbol, voices within the party have grown stronger, demanding a larger share of seats. Several party functionaries have been discussing a target of 25 seats on social media in recent days.
Sources within the party said that a delegation led by VCK president Thol Thirumavalavan, which has already held two rounds of talks, has demanded more than 12 seats, including three in Puducherry.
However, DMK is believed to have indicated that it may allocate only up to eight seats. “We are trying to negotiate for 10 seats. Let us see how it goes,” a senior VCK leader said.
Meanwhile, with CPI(M) insisting on six seats, sources indicate that DMK has suggested that VCK may have to give up one seat to accommodate the Left party.
In a recent Facebook Live interaction, Thirumavalavan said that while the party has to struggle to secure seats from DMK, it remains committed to continuing in the alliance for ideological reasons.
The three parties are also at odds in Puducherry. Even before the announcement of election dates, CPI(M) had declared that it would contest independently in the Union Territory.
At the same time, VCK has demanded three seats in Puducherry, while seat-sharing talks between DMK and Congress there remain inconclusive.
The VCK leader said, “It is unclear whether Congress is keen on continuing the alliance in Puducherry. This time, DMK has better chances of winning more seats, while Congress’ prospects appear limited. One wonders whether they would rather see BJP win than DMK. But despite all this, seat-sharing has still not been finalized.”
While leaders of alliance parties have repeatedly asserted that the DMK alliance remains intact, significant confusion and tension continue to persist within the coalition in both Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
