R ARIVANANTHAM
CHENNAI, MAR 5
With the deadline for filing Rajya Sabha nominations set to end on Thursday (March 5, 2026) political attention in Tamil Nadu has sharply focused on the ongoing seat-sharing negotiations between the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the Indian National Congress ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections — a process that has both parties scrambling to secure common ground on assembly slots and Upper House berths.
- Seat-sharing deadlock dominates political discourse in Tamil Nadu ahead of assembly polls
- Rajya Sabha nominations close tomorrow; DMDK gets one Upper House berth from DMK quota
- Senior leaders meet amid push to rescue alliance and finalise electoral pact
As alliances take centre stage in state politics, the seat-sharing talks hit a stalemate for days, prompting senior leaders from both sides to step in and avert a rupture in the long-standing partnership.
Talks Stalled Over Seats, RS Berths
Despite weeks of negotiations involving party committees, the two parties remained divided over the number of assembly constituencies and Rajya Sabha slots to be apportioned. Early offers from the DMK proposed allocating around 25 assembly seats and one Rajya Sabha berth to the Congress — a formula acceptable during the 2021 elections — but the Congress leadership pushed for a significantly larger share of assembly seats and additional Upper House representation.
The impasse led the DMK to set internal deadlines for progress, with March 3 being a key benchmark for Congress to respond to the offer. When that deadline passed without a breakthrough, senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram was dispatched to meet DMK president and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin in Chennai in a bid to break the logjam.
Reflecting the deadlock, a Congress leader noted: “The talks remain ongoing, and we are working out the numbers,” indicating continued negotiations despite public reticence on specifics.
New Offer, High Stakes
In a sign of thawing, fresh reports suggest Delhi high command intervention may have cleared the way for a new seat-sharing formula this week. Sources indicate that the Congress could be allotted 28 or 29 assembly seats along with a Rajya Sabha seat — an increase over initial offers and a possible compromise to bridge differences. “Congress Chief Kharge has approved this,” one party MP was quoted as saying about the evolving deal.
This comes as the ruling alliance also finalised a Rajya Sabha berth for the DMDK, which joined the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance earlier, with the Upper House slot expected to go to the party’s nominee.
Stakes Beyond Seat Numbers
The urgency to conclude talks is amplified by the biannual Rajya Sabha elections, where six seats fall vacant from Tamil Nadu. With Rajya Sabha nominations closing on March 5, the DMK aims to lock in its quota for Upper House representation and begin filing swiftly.
Political observers say that finalising assembly seat allocations is critical not only for electoral strategy, but also to preserve the decades-old alliance that has delivered three consecutive victories in the state. The negotiations have also drawn other allies into discussions, with parties like Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) and others engaging DMK’s seat-sharing committee on potential roles in the coalition.
As the clock ticks toward the nomination deadline and polls draw nearer, both the DMK and Congress appear to be inching toward a compromise, with key leaders from both parties continuing consultations behind closed doors — underscoring the high political stakes in maintaining unity ahead of a crucial state election.
Caption
Tamil Nadu political drama peaks as DMK-Congress seat negotiations hit the home stretch, with Rajya Sabha nominations closing tomorrow and fresh offers on the table to keep the alliance intact.
