CHENNAI: Seat-sharing in the DMK and AIADMK fronts has left several smaller allies dissatisfied. While some voiced their concerns openly during negotiations, others expressed discontent subtly, with a few even quitting in protest.Former AIADMK MLA V Narayanan quit the party after Nanguneri constituency was ceded to TTV Dhinakaran’s AMMK. In TMC(M), district secretaries Biju Chacko and Malaiyur V Purushothaman resigned over the decision to field candidates on BJP’s ‘lotus’ symbol on all five seats. They alleged that party chief G K Vasan took the decision without consulting functionaries and questioned the rationale.A similar situation prevailed in AMMK, where several long-time loyalists of Dhinakaran were disappointed that constituencies that they nurtured were not allotted to the party. A functionary said that non allocation of those seats meant that they would not get a chance to contest in the election. “We have been with him since 2017. But he has not fought for the seats we wanted,” said an AMMK functionary, one of the 18 MLAs disqualified for supporting Dhinakaran.In the AIADMK alliance, Puratchi Bharatham leader Poovai Jaganmurthy and Puthiya Needhi Katchi leader A C Shanmugam expressed dissatisfaction, while Tamil Nadu Kongu Illaignar Peravai leader U Thaniyarasu, hoping for aseat in DMK front, expressed dissatisfaction.“They have denied me. When I tried to meet the CM to raise the issue, I was not given an appointment. The denial came after seats were announced for allies by the AIADMK, which has left me with no options,” Thaniyarasu told TOI.Puratchi Bharatham general secretary Rushendra Kumar said the party was disappointed with being allotted a single seat against its demand of four. “If additional seats are not given, we will contest alone,” he said.A C Shanmugam too is upset. Sources in AIADMK said that he asked for two seats, but the party leadership is not willing to give more than one. “Now, that offer has also expired,” said an AIADMK leader.
