Chennai, March 24: In a significant move to strengthen its electoral alliance, the DMK has formalized a seat-sharing agreement with the VCK for the upcoming elections in Tamil Nadu. Under this agreement, the DMK has allocated eight assembly seats to the Dalit-focused party.
Following several rounds of negotiations, the deal grants VCK six reserved seats and two general seats. The formal signing took place at the DMK headquarters, Anna Arivalayam, in the presence of Chief Minister and DMK President M.K. Stalin and VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan.
Sources indicate that VCK, citing its growing political significance, had demanded a larger share of seats, including a double-digit allocation and a Rajya Sabha seat. However, the DMK reached a middle ground by slightly increasing the party’s share compared to the last elections, though not all demands were met.
In the 2021 assembly elections, VCK contested six seats and won four, strengthening its position in these negotiations. The increase in seat allocation for the 2026 elections reflects the DMK’s efforts to maintain support from its ally while balancing the larger coalition dynamics.
With this agreement now in place, VCK has formally agreed to contest elections under the terms set by the DMK, ending weeks of uncertainty regarding seat distribution. This development is seen as a significant success for the ruling party as it strives to build a robust alliance ahead of the elections.
It is expected that the DMK will accelerate discussions with its other allies in the coming days to finalize seat allocations before the nomination process begins. Party leaders believe that solidifying the alliance promptly will facilitate smoother election campaigning and strengthen coordination across all assembly constituencies.
Despite the agreement in Tamil Nadu, VCK announced earlier today that it will contest three assembly seats in Puducherry independently, citing ongoing delays in seat-sharing discussions within the DMK-led alliance in the Union Territory.