Lok Sabha polls: DMDK firm on seat numbers

If sources in the ruling party are to be believed, the DMDK is in no mood to accept seats lesser than those allotted to the PMK and is demanding the same number of seats or higher than was allotted to the PMK. Further, the Vijayakant's party is demanding seats only in their strongholds, an insistence which is bothering the alliance partners.

The AIADMK was successful in forging its alliance with the PMK and BJP on a single day. The national party was expected to facilitate the entry of the DMDK into its alliance on the same day, but the exercise failed as DMDK demanded more seats than expected and was not happy with the seats allotted to the PMK.

The deadlock in seat sharing talks has now extended to a week and though political leaders attached to various political parties met DMDK leaders, a decision is unlikely to be arrived at this week due to the party’s .

Even DMDK sources accept the fact that DMDK is staying strong in its demands. A well placed DMDK source said that following the defeat in previous two elections, the party is desperate to prove its strength in this election and so is demanding seats in their strongholds.

According to sources, DMDK is demanding seats in Kallakurichi, Salem, south Chennai and Madurai among the list of constituencies. “Only if we contest in our strongholds, we will be able to win and will be back with numbers”, said the sources.

As the DMDK is still firm on number of seats and is demanding their favourite constituencies deadlock prevails as the same seats are eyed by other alliance partners. BJP is eyeing for south Chennai constituency and AIADMK is no mood to let Salem and Madurai seats for DMDK.

However, the DMDK is not ready to contest in lesser than seven seats in AIADMK alliance as it will automatically convey to the public and party cadres that they are less popular than PMK, said sources.