DMK signs pact with two parties for Tamil Nadu Assembly polls

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Monday finalised a seat-sharing pact with two parties – Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), and Manidhaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK) – for the April 6 assembly polls. While IUML has been allotted 3 seats, the MMK will contest two seats in the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance.

The DMK's rainbow coalition cobbled up for the 2019 elections is continuing for the assembly polls and the Dravidian outfit finalised the agreement with the two aforementioned parties on Monday, while it held the first round of talks with MDMK led by Vaiko, and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) of Thol. Thirumavalavan.

“We sought five seats from the DMK this election but the party expressed its inability to allot the number of seats we asked for due to various reasons. One reason was that there are new parties that joined the alliance in 2019. We have accepted the three seats offered,” IUML President Prof. Khader Mohideen said.

He said the IUML contest the elections in its own symbol of “ladder.” IUML contested five seats in 2016 but won only one.

Read: DMK chief M K Stalin to unveil '10-year vision for Tamil Nadu' on March 7

MMK chief Prof. M. H. Jawahirullah said the DMK wants to contest a maximum number of seats this election in the light of “recent developments” in the country where BJP tries to capture power in states where they do not win elections. “We have signed an agreement to get two seats in the DMK elections,” he said, adding that a decision on which symbol to contest will be taken soon.

MDMK and VCK held the first round of talks with the DMK on Monday and they are likely to return for negotiations on Tuesday. MDMK leader Mallai Sathya, who led the negotiations, said the talks were progressing well and that the party will contest on its own symbol.

The talks with Congress will resume on Wednesday and a deal is likely to be sealed on the same day, sources said. The DMK-Congress held the first round of talks on February 25 during which a “wide gap” between the seats demanded and given was noticed. However, party leaders said they are hopeful of signing a deal with the DMK.