Congress and DMK fail to seal pact as both remain firm on seat positions

Congress and DMK fail to finalise seat-sharing agreement, as both parties remain firm on their demands for the Tamil Nadu elections.

Despite senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram stepping in and holding an hour-long meeting with DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, on Tuesday (March 3, 2026) to break the ice over seat-sharing for the Tamil Nadu Assembly election, the gap between the Congress’s expectations and the DMK’s offer persisted, preventing the two parties from finalising a pact.

Sources said the DMK raised its offer from 25 to 27 Assembly seats and one Rajya Sabha seat, while the Congress leadership is demanding 30 Assembly seats and a Rajya Sabha seat.

Though Mr. Chidambaram conveyed the DMK’s offer to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, who, along with Sonia Gandhi, had asked him to negotiate on the party’s behalf, the proposal still awaits Rahul Gandhi’s approval.

Meanwhile, the DMK allotted one Rajya Sabha seat to the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), led by Premallatha Vijayakant. The agreement, signed by Mr. Stalin and DMDK treasurer L.K. Sudheesh, said both parties would hold talks to finalise a seat-sharing arrangement for the Assembly election. Thus, for the first time, the DMDK is set to get representation in the Rajya Sabha, though it does not have a single legislator in the Assembly.

There are three more Rajya Sabha seats, which the DMK can fill with support from its allies during the March 16 biennial elections. The party has earmarked two for its own candidates. However, the DMK was unable to announce its candidates as it has not received any response from the Congress high command to its offer.

The DMK had earlier set Tuesday (March 3, 2026) as the deadline for the Congress leadership to return to the negotiation table after AICC in-charge for Tamil Nadu Girish Chodankar had rejected the DMK’s offer of 25 seats.