Chennai, March 28 – The Election Commission of India has announced that polling for all 234 Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu will be held in a single phase on April 23, setting the stage for a fierce political contest in the state. As the elections approach, the ruling DMK is likely to release its list of candidates on Saturday, as talks with its allies near completion.
According to the schedule, the filing of nominations will begin on March 30 and conclude on April 6. Votes cast on April 23 will be counted on May 4, when the results will also be announced.
Against this backdrop, negotiations within the DMK-led alliance regarding seat allocation have entered their final phase, although some key issues remain unresolved.
The DMK has largely finalized agreements with several allies, including the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Nadu, MDMK, and the Communist Party of India, regarding the constituencies they will contest.
However, discussions are still ongoing with the Congress and the Communist Party of India (Marxist), both crucial partners in the alliance.
The Congress has been allocated 28 seats in the DMK-led coalition. Of these, the party has agreed to accept 23 constituencies but is pressing for changes in the remaining five seats.
The main sticking point revolves around constituencies such as Srivaikuntam and Killiyoor, which the Congress had won in the previous election but which the DMK now intends to contest.
The Congress leadership has firmly opposed relinquishing these seats, leading to a delay in finalizing the agreement.
Meanwhile, demands from other allies have also contributed to the delay. The DMDK faction led by Premalatha Vijayakanth has reportedly sought constituencies such as Rishivandiyam, Virugambakkam, and Ambur.
However, the DMK is reluctant to part with these seats, considering them strongholds of the party.
The CPI(M) is said to be dissatisfied over a reduction in the number of seats allocated to it and is pushing for constituencies where the DMK has a strong support base.
Party sources indicate that these three issues – negotiations with the Congress, demands from the DMDK faction, and concerns of the CPI(M) – have collectively delayed the release of the DMK's list of candidates.
Preparations had been underway at Anna Arivalayam, the DMK headquarters, to release the candidate list on Friday.
However, the announcement was deferred due to the lack of a final agreement with key allies. With efforts continuing to reach a consensus, sources now suggest that the DMK is likely to reach an amicable settlement with its allies and release its much-awaited list of candidates later today.
