AIADMK-led NDA finalises seat-sharing for Tamil Nadu assembly polls
Chennai : The seat-sharing arrangement among key allies of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by Edappadi K. Palaniswami has been finalised ahead of the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, marking a crucial step in the alliance’s electoral preparations.
Announcing the development at a press conference held at the party headquarters, Palaniswami stated that the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam has allocated a total of 56 constituencies to its allies. Of these, the Bharatiya Janata Party has been allotted 27 seats, the Pattali Makkal Katchi 18 seats, and the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam 11 seats.
He further noted that discussions with other smaller alliance partners are still underway and are expected to conclude soon. Tamil Nadu, which has a total of 234 Assembly constituencies, is scheduled to go to polls on April 23, setting the stage for a high-stakes political contest.
Apart from the major allies, the NDA coalition in the state also includes the Tamil Maanila Congress led by former Union Minister G. K. Vasan, as well as the IJK party. The alliance is aiming to consolidate its position against rival blocs in what is expected to be a closely fought election.
Responding to queries regarding the number of seats the AIADMK itself will contest, Palaniswami said that the matter is still under discussion with alliance partners and a final announcement will be made shortly. He emphasised that the negotiations have been smooth and efficient within the NDA.
Taking a dig at the opposition, Palaniswami remarked that while the NDA has managed to swiftly finalise its seat-sharing arrangement, the rival Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-led alliance is facing delays and internal disagreements, leading to uncertainty.
The press conference was attended by senior leaders including Union Minister Piyush Goyal, PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss, and AMMK chief T. T. V. Dhinakaran, reflecting the united front presented by the NDA alliance.
With seat-sharing now largely settled, the NDA is expected to shift its focus to candidate selection and campaign strategy in the coming days.
