Less takers for TNCC chief’s quest for more seats

District Congress presidents (DCC) owing allegiance to former union ministers P Chidambaram and EVKS Elangovan have already struck a deal with DMK counterparts in their respective districts. Thirunavukkarasar, who had publicly complained about the DMK being miserly in seat allocation a few months back, was understood to have fixed the number at 10 to 15 per cent seats in all local bodies this time. The DMK had selectively kept the numbers low, particularly in urban areas, Chennai and Tiruchy to name a few, where the Dravidian major gave a meagre seven per cent seats in October 2016. The numbers are unlikely to be scaled up this time either, more so after the DMK grew belligerent following AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa’s recent death. 

A DCC president requesting anonymity said that most of the district Congress presidents were content with the numbers offered by their DMK counterparts. “We only wish they (DMK) don’t reduce the already finalised numbers. The number (1015 per cent seats) prescribed by him (Thirunavukkarasar) would not be accepted by most of the Congressmen as they have got the seats to their liking,” a state Congress functionary requesting anonymity said. He added that Chidambaram’s men had bagged nearly 30 per cent of seats in Sivangaga and DMK has allotted around 40 per cent in Kanniyakumari where the Congress stands a good chance of winning. 

“Seat numbers have been finalised after factoring in both parties’ local strength. Consensus has been reached at district level. Change is not even remotely possible. Even if some other party were to join the alliance and accordingly warrant a change in the seat numbers, it would only be reducing Congress seats,” said another state leader, quickly adding that the high command has decided to partner with the DMK for 2019 and it would not do anything to antagonise the Dravidian major.