Mon Feb 02 21:11:34 UTC 2026: # Congress Demands More Seats from DMK in Tamil Nadu Alliance

The Story:
The Indian National Congress (INC) is reportedly pressuring its senior alliance partner, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), for a greater share of Assembly seats in the upcoming Tamil Nadu elections. Citing sources within the Congress, it is believed that Rahul Gandhi expressed dissatisfaction to DMK Parliamentary Party leader Kanimozhi Karunanidhi over the reduced number of seats allotted to the Congress in the previous election (25 in 2021, down from 41 in 2016). The Congress is now demanding a return to the 41-seat allocation.

Key Points:

  • The Congress high command believes the DMK is underestimating their strength in Tamil Nadu.
  • Rahul Gandhi reportedly conveyed his displeasure to Kanimozhi Karunanidhi regarding the seat allocation.
  • The Congress is demanding 41 Assembly seats, similar to the 2016 allocation.
  • Girish Chodankar, head of the Tamil Nadu Congress’s seat negotiation committee, is expected to lead tough negotiations with the DMK.
  • The Congress leadership is pushing for a share in power in the state government.
  • The DMK leadership expressed that the inclusion of Congress in the government would weaken the alliance.

Critical Analysis:
The context does not allow for an in-depth strategic analysis of why these events are happening. However, the articles highlighting Rahul Gandhi’s China claim indicate a larger trend of the Congress party attempting to reassert its influence and relevance on both the national and regional stage.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Congress seeks to regain political ground in Tamil Nadu by leveraging its alliance with the DMK.
  • Seat-sharing negotiations between the Congress and DMK are likely to be contentious.
  • The Congress is positioning itself for a potential role in a future DMK-led government, if the DMK ends up winning the election.
  • Differing viewpoints exist between the Congress and DMK on the optimal structure of their alliance.
  • Rahul Gandhi’s personal involvement suggests the issue is considered significant within the Congress leadership.

Impact Analysis:
The outcome of these seat-sharing negotiations will significantly influence the strength and stability of the DMK-Congress alliance. A failure to reach a mutually agreeable settlement could lead to friction within the coalition and potentially impact their electoral prospects in the upcoming elections. If the Congress manages to secure a larger seat share and subsequently wins a significant portion of those seats, it could wield greater influence within a DMK-led government, thus shaping policy decisions. Conversely, continued marginalization could further weaken the Congress’s presence in Tamil Nadu.

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