Allies jostle with each other for seats

Chennai: Parties in both the DMK and AIADMK fronts are competing with their allies for the same seats in several parts of Tamil Nadu.In the DMK-led alliance, it is not just the Madurai North assembly segment where Congress and the DMK are sparring. Congress functionaries in Trichy have been urging the party high command to seek Trichy East segment, represented by DMK now. While Congress MP Manickam Tagore had demanded Madurai North, where the sitting MLA is G Thalkapathy from DMK, Trichy urban district president L Rex has told the party seniors that the party had better prospects in Trichy east.
Harur in Dharmapuri district has emerged as another flashpoint, with two DMK allies, the CPM and the VCK, seeking the seat. Harur, which has a sizeable dalit electorate, played a role in the defeat of PMK leader Sowmya Anbumani in the 2024 Lok Sabha election, as Dalit voters largely backed the DMK. The VCK is keen to build on that voting pattern, though Harur is a general constituency. The CPM, meanwhile, is seeking to regain Harur, which it won 4 times in past assembly elections, including a by-poll. The Indian Union Muslim League, another DMK ally, has been eyeing Ambur, held by DMK now. The DMK leadership is also reviewing allocation of certain segments like Kovilpatti to allies. On the NDA side, former state president Tamilisai Soundararajan was keen on T Nagar assembly segment. AIADMK's B Sathya Narayanan has also been working in the constituency. Soundararajan is exploring Mylapore as an alternative, a BJP source said.In the western belt, AIADMK wants to retain Singanallur seat in Coimbatore which it won in 2021. But BJP has deputed former BJP state president K Annamalai to campaign, seen as an indication of BJP's interest to contest there. Political analysts say parties would vie for seats based on their traditional strengths in the respective segments. Often they would also attempt to cash in on recent developments, like Thiruparankundram karthigai deepam row. While AIADMK MLA VV Rajan Chellapa has been nurturing the segment, BJP leaders see an opportunity here and are eyeing it. Union minister L Murugan has been appointed as the party's campaign in-charge for the constituency. "It is routine in assembly elections for allies to push for constituencies where winning chances appear higher," said political analyst R Deepak. "In the NDA, the BJP, which has stitched the alliance together and is exhibiting a big-brother approach, may push harder this time, backed by improved performance in western districts in 2024 and a larger booth-level presence compared to 2021. This could sharpen friction with the AIADMK, as their perceived strongholds often overlap," he added.