Allies meet DMK chief over seat sharing

Alagiri and Stalin held a brief discussion regarding the polls to rural local bodies a day after the Supreme Court gave the go ahead to the SEC to conduct the two-stage polls. If information trickling out of Anna Arivalayam were something to go by, the district secretaries and district presidents of both parties would finalise the seat arrangements in their respective districts.

“Election is only for rural local bodies where political parties do not matter. Even for urban local bodies, council chief would be elected indirectly. So, there is little to discuss. In rural areas, it is better to leave it to the district bosses of both parties,” said a Congress senior who did not wish to be named.

“The question of percentage does not arise. Our allies don’t have statewide presence. They will be strong in one district, weak in another. State level discussion does not make sense,” reasoned a DMK functionary requesting anonymity.

Curiously, the talks have happened a day after the Supreme Court ruling came as a shocker to the DMK. A couple of senior leaders were understood to have advised Stalin against contesting the civic polls in toto. Party insider privy to Wednesday’s discussion revealed that a very senior leader had suggested boycott of the poll citing conspiracy by the ruling party to engage in large scale manipulation.

However, a hesitant Stalin was understood to have discouraged the idea on the premise that it would vindicate the position of the AIADMK, which has been accusing of fearing election defeat.