Published 15:02 IST, March 4th 2019
CPI wades into DMK-Congress Lok Sabha 2019 polls alliance in Tamil Nadu; here's the seat-sharing
The CPI and DMK have officially formed the alliance for the Lok Sabha 2019 polls in Tamil Nadu. The CPI's state secretary R Mutharasan and DMK President MK Stalin signed the seat sharing agreement on two constituencies in the state, ahead of Lok Sabha polls.
The CPI and DMK have officially formed the alliance for the Lok Sabha 2019 polls in Tamil Nadu.
The CPI's state secretary R Mutharasan and DMK President MK Stalin signed the seat sharing agreement on two constituencies in the state, ahead of Lok Sabha polls.
Tamil Nadu has a total of 39 Lok Sabha seats.
DMK which has been in talks with several parties had formed an alliance with Congress on February 20, where it had promised 10 seats for the party. MK Stalin proposed Rahul Gandhi's name as the next PM in 2018 even before the alliance between Congress and DMK was confirmed.
The DMK had also settled the seat sharing with the party VCK had for 2019 elections. After multiple rounds of discussion, DMK gave 2 seats to VCK.
Sources say that the DMK was initially reluctant to give two seats to VCK. However, VCK chief Thirumavalavan stood his ground.
VCK is a pro Dalit Party who stood with DMK in last two parliamentary elections.
The DMK is presently in talks with other parties in the state as well. The DMK will decide on contesting on the remaining seats.
Meanwhile, the BJP had confirmed the alliance with its old ally AIADMK.
On February 19, it was announced that the BJP would fight in a fight out of the 40 seats in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. Further, the BJP would also provide full support to the ruling party in TN during the by-polls.
"The AIADMK and BJP will have an alliance for Lok Sabha elections which will be a mega and winning alliance - BJP will contest on five seats in Lok Sabha elections and we will be contesting together in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry," E Palaniswami and O Panneerselvam said.
Piyush Goyal also expressed his happiness after sealing the alliance with the AIADMK.
"We will start the chapter of Tamil Nadu with full confidence under the leadership of O Panneerselvam & E Palaniswami in state and under the leadership of Modiji in the Center. All parties together will form the National Democratic Alliance," he added.
(With ANI Inputs)
Updated 16:39 IST, March 4th 2019