Published Mar 02, 2026 | 6:24 PM ⚊ Updated Mar 02, 2026 | 6:24 PM
Tamil Nadu Congress leaders have demanded more seats and a share in power if the coalition returns to office since at least December 2025.
Synopsis: The DMK has set a 3 March deadline for the Congress to accept its offer of 25 Assembly seats and one Rajya Sabha seat ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, seemingly using the forthcoming Rajya Sabha elections to press the Congress to take a decision. Meanwhile, speculation over the Congress exploring alternative options grew following Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Hyderabad.
The DMK has set a 3 March deadline for the Congress to accept its offer of 25 Assembly seats plus one Rajya Sabha seat ahead of the 2026 Assembly polls in the state, South First has learned.
With seat-sharing talks deadlocked, the DMK appears to be using the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections to force the Congress to decide before the 5 March nomination deadline.
“We have proposed 25 + 1. But they are standing firm on more than 30 seats,” a DMK leader told South First.
“The Rajya Sabha nomination is on March 5. If they come around before that, they will get one seat. Otherwise, all three seats will go to DMK members. One may potentially go to the DMDK. But I believe the Congress will come back.”
Sources close to Tamil Nadu Congress president K Selvaperunthagai acknowledged that such a deadline has been conveyed.
At the same time, reports say the Congress leadership, which has long sought nearly 30 Assembly seats and two Rajya Sabha seats, is exploring other political options.
If the Congress fails to accept the deal, it would deny the party an opportunity to increase its tally in the Upper House of Parliament for at least another year.
Tamil Nadu Congress leaders have demanded more seats and a share in power if the coalition returns to office since at least December 2025.
The DMK is understood to have offered between 25 and 27 seats, but the Congress is dissatisfied with that number.
Although the Congress leadership advised functionaries not to speak publicly about alliance matters, leaders such as MP Manickam Tagore and Praveen Chakravarty continued to press their demands in public. Tamil Nadu Congress in-charge Girish Chodankar also commented publicly on the negotiations.
The DMK has consistently refused these demands. Chief Minister and DMK president MK Stalin, addressing a public meeting, rejected “power-sharing” in Tamil Nadu, saying the model does not suit the state’s political culture.
After the power-sharing demand was set aside, Congress leaders stepped up efforts to secure more seats.
Congress sources said the party initially sought 39 Assembly seats and two Rajya Sabha seats. The DMK has held its position of 25 Assembly seats and one Rajya Sabha seat.
On 28 February, the Congress seat-sharing negotiation committee, led by Chodankar, met the DMK’s committee headed by TR Baalu to discuss seat allocation.
Until recently, Congress leaders accused the DMK of delaying talks, even though the Congress formed its negotiation committee in November.
After the 28 February meeting, Selvaperunthagai told reporters the discussions were “cordial” and that the party had placed its demands before the DMK. He also confirmed that one Rajya Sabha seat had been assured.
But in a recent interaction with the media in Delhi, Girish Chodankar said 25 seats would not be sufficient. He added that the Congress had made several compromises for the DMK in the past and deserved appropriate returns this time.
Earlier, a senior leader from the DMK’s first family is said to have told associates that the party does not fully trust the Congress and suspects it is exploring other options.
In that context, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s arrival in Hyderabad on Monday morning has drawn attention.
Reports say Aadhav Arjuna, election wing general secretary of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), is likely to meet Gandhi there to discuss a possible electoral understanding.
Sources close to Arjuna confirmed to South First that he is not in Chennai but declined to say whether he had travelled to Hyderabad.
A Tamil Nadu Congress leader dismissed the reports. “How would Rahul Gandhi even speak with Aadhav Arjuna? There is no possibility of that,” he said.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
