Cong not to contest in city

DMK president MK Stalin and State Congress president KS Alagiri were learnt to have formalised the agreement after negotiators of both parties achieved breakthrough in the second round of talks held at DMK headquarters Anna Arivalayam early Thursday evening.

Curiously, the DMK has declined ally Congress’s request to contest in at least one seat in Chennai. DMK has retained all three Parliamentary constituencies, especially Chennai South, which was also on the Congress wish list. Even DMK insiders privy to the deal admitted that the allotment was lucrative and the Congress has every reason to be satisfied as almost all seats were winnable ones. Understandably, concerns were raised even in the DMK camp over the very candidates for whom the Congress had negotiated hard. Karur and Krishnagiri were good for DMK, but they have been gifted to the Congress which is expected to post ‘inexperienced’ candidates close to AICC leadership.

Alagiri told the media after the meeting that the DMK and Congress have successfully identified the winnable seats and it would be formally announced by the Dravidian major on Friday. Asked if they were satisfied with the choice of seats, Alagiri said, “Very satisfied.” The two parties were earlier expected to make the announcement on Thursday evening, but it was deferred to Friday when DMK would make public the allies seats.

The DMK has allotted Kanniyakumari, Sivagangai, Virudhunagar, Tiruvallur, Karur, Arani, Tiruchy, Theni and Dindigul or Mayiladuthurai to the Congress, a top level Congress source revealedto DTNext.