Congress forms panel for seat-sharing talks with DMK
What's the story
The Indian National Congress has formed a five-member committee to finalize alliance terms with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) for the 2026 assembly elections. The move comes after weeks of political speculation in Tamil Nadu and is seen as a clear indication that Congress intends to remain part of the ruling coalition. The committee will be headed by Girish Raya Chodankar, All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
Team composition
Committee members and their roles
The committee also includes state unit president K Selvaperunthagai, Assembly floor leader Rajesh Kumar, Karnataka leaders Nivedith Alva and Suraj Hegde. The panel's official announcement is expected soon. Reports suggest that the DMK had approached the Congress High Command to clear confusion caused by internal discussions within the state Congress about a possible understanding with actor Vijay's Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK).
Alliance assurance
DMK seeks clarity from Congress leadership
A senior DMK functionary said that the noise had become politically disruptive and sought clarity from the Congress leadership. A member of the DMK's first family reportedly met AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi earlier this week with a message from Chief Minister M K Stalin for swift clarity. Congress leaders have indicated that a formal letter reaffirming their commitment to the alliance will be sent to Stalin soon.
Negotiation topics
Seat-sharing discussions and coalition participation
Discussions between the Congress and DMK will include seat-sharing formulas and the Congress's role in a future coalition government. Both parties are hopeful that negotiations will be smooth and frictionless. The Congress-DMK alliance has largely remained intact since 2004, except for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. However, over successive assembly elections, the party's bargaining power has diminished significantly.
Bargaining decline
Congress's diminishing bargaining power in Tamil Nadu
In 2006, the Congress was allotted 48 seats, which increased to 63 in 2011. However, it declined to 41 in 2016 and further dropped to a mere 25 in 2021, the lowest allocation to date. As both parties move into the next round of talks, the formation of this panel indicates Congress's desire to stabilize this alliance and present a united front ahead of what promises to be an important electoral year.