Chennai: After three rounds of talks, the Left parties and DMK are yet to arrive at a seat-sharing deal. They will meet again on Tuesday. DMK wants CPM and CPI to accept fewer than the six seats each they were allotted in 2021. While CPI struck a cautious note, CPM said it was “unfair” when Congress got more and DMK was willing to allot “more seats” to new entrant DMDK. Meanwhile, Thol Thirumavalavan’s VCK is confident of securing more than the six seats it was allotted in 2021.So far, DMK finalised deals with Congress (28, along with one Rajya Sabha seat), MDMK (four), KDMK (two), and IUML (two). Talks are yet to be concluded with VCK, DMDK, and a few other minor partners. DMK has also allotted an Rajya Sabha seat to DMDK, which wants to contest six assembly seats.“We asked for more seats than what we got last time. DMK asked us to scale it down to five seats due to the increase in the number of alliance partners. Defeating BJP and its allies is our primary objective and we remain committed to it,” CPI state secretary M Veerapandian said, expressing confidence that an amicable solution would be worked out.CPM state secretary P Shanmugam, however, said, “When they managed to increase the number of seats for Congress, how can they ask us to reduce our share? It is unfair. We want a double-digit number of seats that matches our strength. Protecting our party’s interests is as important as defeating the BJP-led front.”Meanwhile, DMK and allies are set to protest jointly against the BJP govt at the Centre over the LPG shortage and the “neglect” of Tamil Nadu on Sunday. TNCC president K Selvaperunthagai, VCK president Thol Thirumavalavan, CPI state secretary M Veerapandian and Tamizhaga Vazhvuriamai Katchi founder T Velmurugan are set to protest in Chennai. MDMK general secretary Vaiko is set to protest in Madurai and CPM state secretary P Shanmugam will protest in Kancheepuram.
