Sun Oct 12 16:13:02 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and rewritten news article based on the provided text:

**Summary:**

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) Tamil Nadu Secretary, P. Shanmugam, stated that his party will request more seats from the DMK alliance in the 2026 Assembly election. He also commented on the potential alliance between actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) and the AIADMK, questioning how TVK could ally with the AIADMK if the AIADMK is still aligned with the BJP, considering Vijay’s stated ideological opposition to the BJP. Shanmugam also welcomed the state government’s decision to remove caste names from streets, while suggesting considerations for leaders whose names are historically linked to their caste. He highlighted the long-standing demand for water management improvements in Namakkal, urging the government to allocate funds for diverting water from the Mettur dam and to address the rehabilitation of victims of the kidney sale racket.

**News Article:**

**CPI(M) Tamil Nadu Eyes More Seats in 2026, Questions Potential AIADMK-TVK Alliance**

**Namakkal, October 12, 2025:** The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] is set to negotiate for a larger share of seats within the DMK-led alliance for the upcoming 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. This announcement was made by CPI(M) Tamil Nadu Secretary P. Shanmugam during a special district conference in Namakkal on Sunday.

“We will seek additional seats,” Shanmugam told reporters, emphasizing the party’s understanding of its own strength and strategic approach to elections. In the 2021 elections, the CPI(M) contested in six constituencies as part of the DMK coalition.

Shanmugam also addressed the ongoing speculation surrounding a potential alliance between actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) and the AIADMK. He raised concerns about the viability of such an alliance, given TVK’s leader’s stated opposition to the BJP and the AIADMK’s current ties to the BJP-led NDA. “How will the TVK have an alliance with the BJP and the AIADMK,” he questioned, calling upon AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami to clarify his party’s position on the matter.

In other news, Shanmugam welcomed the state government’s decision to remove caste names from streets. While expressing support for this move, he also suggested the government should consider allowing exceptions for public figures whose names historically include a caste surname, such as Muthuramalinga Thevar and E.M.S. Namboodiripad.

Finally, Shanmugam reiterated the long-standing demands of the people of Namakkal for improved water management, specifically urging the government to allocate funds for diverting surplus water from the Mettur dam to the Thirumanimutharu. He also called on the government to provide rehabilitation for the victims of the kidney sale racket in the district.

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