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After days of haggling, ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and its key ally Congress today finalised on the 63 constituencies to be contested by the national party for the April 13 assembly elections, amid indications by the Congress about possible power-sharing in case the combine won.
"The aspirations of Congress men and women will be met," Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K V Thangkabalu said when asked if the two parties had worked out a strategy on power-sharing in the event of the DMK-led alliance winning the elections.
The Congress, propping up the outgoing DMK government with the crucial support of its 34 MLAs, has been pressuring the Dravidian party to share power with it.
The demand for cabinet berths from leaders like former TNCC president EVKS Elangovan had in the past been cold-shouldered by the DMK, which has six ministers in the United Progressive Alliance-II cabinet.
Speaking to mediapersons at TNCC headquarters, Satyamurthy Bhavan, after signing the agreement with DMK president and Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, Thangkabalu said the party was contesting in all districts except Dharmapuri and Theni.
Interestingly, the DMK allotted five seats from its bastion, Chennai, to Congress. Top DMK leaders, including Karunanidhi and his son MK Stalin and some cabinet colleagues including Finance Minister K Anbazhagan, represent different constituencies in Chennai.
Anna Nagar, presently represented by Electricity Minister Arcot N Veeraswamy, and nearby Alandur (Kanchipuram district) by Labour Minister TM Anbarasan are two important seats allotted to Congress by DMK.
Besides, Thiru.Vi. Ka Nagar, Thygaraya Nagar, Mylapore and Royapuram have also been allotted.
Thangkabalu, who was also a member of the Congress election panel that held discussions with its DMK counterpart on seat-sharing, said the 63 seats, 15 more than alloted to it in 2006, consists of constituencies of sitting
Thangkabalu highlighted the increased number of seat allocations to Congress both in two Lok Sabha polls as well as assembly elections.
The two parties had first joined hands for the 2004 Lok Sabha polls. Asked if the 2G spectrum scam in connection with which DMK leader and former Telecom Minister A Raja has been lodged in prison, would affect Congress prospects in Chennai, he said all the 234 seats in the state were "winnable".
"We will work to ensure the victory of alliance party members also," he said. Among others, the DMK has also allotted Radhapuram (Tirunelveli district) to Congress, which is presently represented by DMK's M Appavu.
Thangkabalu said applications from MLA aspirants will be received on Wednesday and a day after, they will be sent to the party high command to take a final call.
Now, all eyes are on the DMK which is scheduled to release its candidates list on Wednesday.
Tuesday's agreement comes after week-long intense negotiations following the seat-sharing deal signed between Congress and DMK, which unlike in the past was made to yield due to the tough stand taken by the national party.
Under the pact, DMK will contest 121 seats, Pattali Makkal Katchi 30, Viduthlalai Chiruthaigal Katchi 10, Kongu Nadu Munnetra Kazhagam seven, Indian Union Muslim League two and Moovender Munetra Kazhagam one, the last two seeking election on the DMK symbol.
The following are the constituencies from where the Congress will contest:
1. Tirutani
2. Poonamallee
3. Avadi
4. Thiru VK Nagar
5. Royapuram
6. Anna Nagar
7. T Nagar
8. Mylapore
9. Alandur
10. Tirupathur
11. Maduranthaagam
12. Solinggar
13. Vellore
14. Ambur
15. Krishnagiri
16. Hosur
17. Sengam
18. Kalasapakkam
19. Cheyyar
20. Rishivanddiyam
21. Aathur
22. Salem North
23. Tiruchengodu
24. Erode west
25. Modakuracchi
26. Kangeyam
27. Ooty
28. Avinashi
29. Tirupur south
30. Thondamuthur
31. Singanallur
32. Valparai
33. Nilakootai
34. Vedasenthur
35. Karur
36. Manaparai
37. Musuri
38. Ariyalur
39. Virudhachalam
40. Mayilaadurai
41. Tiruthuraipoondi
42. Papanasam
43. Pattukootai
44. Perauraani
45. Thirumaaiyam
46. Arantangi
47. Karaikudi
48. Sivaganga
49. Madurai North
50. Madurai South
51. Tiruparamkundram
52. Virudhunagar
53. Paramakudi
54. Ramanathapuram
55. Vilathhikulam
56. Thiruvaikundam
57. Vasudeevanallurr
58. Kadayaallur
59. Nanguneri
60. Radhapuram
61. Colechal
62. Vilavangodu, and
63.Killiyur