Chennai, March 24 The ruling DMK signed a seat-sharing agreement with its ally VCK on Tuesday, allocating eight seats to the party, including two general constituencies, to contest in the April 23 Tamil Nadu Assembly election.
The agreement was signed by Chief Minister M K Stalin, who is the DMK president, and VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan, at Anna Arivalayam, the DMK state headquarters here, in the presence of leaders from both parties.
The VCK, which had initially sought ten seats, eventually settled for eight during the second round of negotiations held on Tuesday. According to the agreement, the VCK will contest from six reserved constituencies and two general seats, as part of the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance.
Later, speaking to reporters, Thirumavalavan said his party had secured the two general constituencies that it had sought.
"There are 18 parties in the SPA, which recently took in new entrants, so the seat-sharing negotiations among the allies are likely to continue for some time. The seat-sharing talks with all the parties will be finalized in two or three days," he said.
In response to a question about the VCK settling for a single-digit number despite asking for more, the VCK leader replied, "When the DMK has come forward and sacrificed its seats, it is our duty to give up the seats for the sake of the alliance."