Seat sharing: AIADMK may follow 2011 formula

According to AIADMK insiders the ruling party will be contesting in about 150 to 160 seats ceding out at least 70 to 80 Assembly seats to its allies. Last Assembly polls in 2016, Jayalalithaa faced the polls by roping in small players as it allies and ignored the registered recognised parties, but the party is now likely to follow the 2011 formula.

In 2016 polls late AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa ignored the BJP, PMK, DMDK and Tamil Maanila Congress. As a result, the AIADMK along with smaller parties contested all the 234 constituencies under the two leaves symbol, but this is not possible now confirmed multiple sources in the AIADMK headquarters adding that BJP, PMK, DMDK are likely to be the potential ally for AIADMK in 2021 polls.

“The AIADMK without the charismatic Jayalalithaa has compulsions in the coming elections and can’t go alone. Though the current NDA alliance faced a rout in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the AIADMK is keen on continuing the NDA alliance for the 2021 Assembly polls,” said an AIADMK senior.

“More than 95 per cent of the Ministers will be contesting in their sitting seats, but a few MLAs may lose their constituencies due to the alliance factors,” the top AIADMK policy maker who has already begun the election works told DT Next.

“Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami during a recent interaction with the Cabinet Ministers confirmed the same stating that the Ministers should be ready to take on the DMK and also bear the election expenditures. The AIADMK senior also said that the party will try its best to prevent giving seats to the political heir of current AIADMK leaders.

It may be noted that during the Lok Sabha polls, the AIADMK almost gave 50 per cent of the Lok sabha seats to its allies which also included Dr Krishnasamy’s Puthiya Thamizhagam and A C Shanmugham’s Puthiya Needhi Katchi.