Cong, DMK to sign poll pact tomorrow?

Congress is likely to contest 9 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu and one in Puducherry as part of the alliance with DMK, sources said on Tuesday. The number will be finalised on Tuesday and an agreement will be signed in Chennai on Wednesday.

The 9 plus one formula suggested by the DMK after the PMK joined the rival AIADMK alliance will be put forth before Congress President Rahul Gandhi Tuesday evening. “The formula will most probably be accepted by Rahul Gandhi and a formal pact will be signed by Tamil Nadu Congress chief K S Alagiri and DMK President M K Stalin in Chennai on Wednesday,” a senior Congress leader told DH.

The DMK, which had proposed seven plus one formula and was insisting the Congress to accept it, changed its stand and agreed to give 10 seats, including one in Puducherry, on Tuesday morning. This was due to PMK joining the AIADMK front – the party was demanding six seats from the DMK alliance but had also launched parallel talks with the ruling dispensation.

“Since this is acceptable to us, we will be agreeing to the formula and sign the deal,” the leader said. The negotiations were held between Alagiri and DMK Rajya Sabha MP and Stalin’s half-sister Kanimozhi.

The Congress and DMK will contest the Lok Sabha polls and have already projected Rahul Gandhi as their Prime Ministerial candidate.