Congress will field candidates in nine Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu and support the DMK and its allies in the remaining seats of the state, it was confirmed on Saturday. Congress will also fight from the seat in Pondicherry (Puducherry), the leadership confirmed.
The seat-sharing formula between the two major ruling allies of the southern state remains the same as from the 2019 general elections. Chief Minister MK Stalin's Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam will field candidates it 20 seats, followed by a Congress tally of nine. Earlier, two seats each were allotted to the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi and the two major Left parties -- CPI and CPI (M).
The finalised seat-sharing formula was made public by MK Stalin and TNCC chief K Selvaperunthagai, in the presence of AICC leaders KC Venugopal and Ajoy Kumar.
Addressing reporters, Venugopal exuded confidence in the DMK-led combine winning all 40 seats in TN and Puducherry and said the 'bonding' between the Congress and the DMK "is intact."
"The INDIA alliance is all set to send 40 MPs to the Lok Sabha and it will form the next government at the Centre! The arrogant regime has wreaked havoc all over the country, and Tamil Nadu has consistently received step-motherly treatment for the Centre. This must end, and we will together defeat them!" Venugopal jotted on X (formerly Twitter) after meeting Stalin.
AIADMK's Theni MP P Ravindhranath, son of son of O Panneerselvam, was the only victor from the NDA camp in 2019 as the DMK-Congress alliance swept Tamil Nadu. Apart from Congress, VCK and the Left parties, the Indian Union Muslim League, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Kongunadu Makkal Desia Katchi and Indhiya Jananayaga Katchi were given a seat each by the DMK.
Earlier the day, actor-politician and Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) founder Kamal Haasan finalized an electoral tie-up with the DMK-led alliance. Stalin's camp agreed to allot one Rajya Sabha seat to Kamal in 2025. In turn, the actor will campaign for the INDIA alliance in all the 39 constituencies in Tamil Nadu and the lone seat in Puducherry.