Published Jan 31, 2026 | 9:05 AM ⚊ Updated Jan 31, 2026 | 9:05 AM
Kanimozhi Karunanidhi and Rahul Gandhi at a public meeting in 2024. Credit: x.com/@KanimozhiDMK
Synopsis: With the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections nearing, a meeting in Delhi between DMK leader Kanimozhi Karunanidhi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has drawn attention amid ongoing seat-sharing talks between the two allies. Sources said the Congress was informally assured between 27 and 30 seats, even as the DMK firmly ruled out any demand for a share in power, which some Congress leaders have publicly raised.
With the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections approaching, talks over seat-sharing between the DMK and the Congress—partners in the INDIA alliance—have intensified.
Congress leaders have begun openly raising a new demand for a “share in power”, but DMK leaders have said clearly that there is no such possibility.
Against this backdrop, the meeting on the Thursday, 29, January in Delhi between DMK Deputy General Secretary and Parliamentary Party Leader Kanimozhi Karunanidhi and Rahul Gandhi at his residence has become a major talking point.
Reports said that during the meeting, the Congress was told it could be allotted between 27 and 30 seats.
The Congress in Tamil Nadu has formed a five-member committee to handle alliance talks, led by senior leader Girish Chodankar. Tamil Nadu Congress Committee President Selvaperunthagai is also part of the committee.
The committee met Chief Minister MK Stalin as early as December, but the alliance talks have still not been finalised.
“We are waiting for the DMK’s response because alliance talks have not started yet. We have been waiting for them for the last two months. We formed an alliance committee in November. We requested that, by 15 December, the alliance talks be closed and the alliance sealed. I don’t know why there is a delay,” Girish told ANI on Wednesday.
It was against this backdrop that Kanimozhi Karunanidhi met Rahul Gandhi at his residence on Thursday afternoon. Alliance negotiations were discussed at the meeting, according to sources within both the DMK and the Congress.
“There has been an assurance of up to 30 seats. Maybe one Rajya Sabha seat could also be given,” a person close to Kanimozhi told South First.
The person added that the Congress raised the issue of a share in power.
However, a source close to TN Congress Committee President Selvaperunthagai told South First that Rahul Gandhi did not speak about power sharing.
“Kanimozhi told Rahul Gandhi that statements by Congress leaders on alliance talks are creating unnecessary commotion and that this should stop,” the source said.
“Twenty-seven seats are assured. The alliance with the DMK is confirmed. At the same time, talks for additional seats are still under way. There is no change in the DMK–Congress alliance.”
When official political meetings take place, leaders usually issue press releases or post about them on social media. But neither Rahul Gandhi nor Kanimozhi Karunanidhi issued a statement or shared a post about this meeting.
Because the meeting was not treated as formal, neither showed interest in publicising it, sources told South First.
Kanimozhi, who has been appointed head of the DMK’s election manifesto committee, has recently been travelling across several districts in Tamil Nadu. Speaking to the press in Tenkasi on Friday about her meeting with Rahul Gandhi, she said talks between the DMK and the Congress are progressing smoothly.
“After all the discussions are completed, the party leader will make an announcement,” she said, adding that more parties could join the DMK alliance.
