Bargaining for specific seats delays finalising talks with minor parties

Chennai: Bargaining for specific seats by smaller parties is emerging as a hurdle in alliance talks with them by the Dravidian majors.Ottapidaram in Thoothukudi district has become the sticking point, that is keeping Puthiya Tamilagam out of the NDA. The constituency, with a sizeable devendrakula vellalar vote, is eyed by Puthiya Tamilagam founder K Krishnasamy. He won the seat in 2011 and finished second in 2016.
The obstacle for the NDA is that the BJP has already committed Ottapidaram to John Pandian of Tamilaga Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, another outfit banking on devendrakula vellalars. "While Pandian may not personally contest, his party is keen on the seat, leaving little scope for adjustment," said a BJP leader. State BJP president Nainar Nagenthran is trying to pacify Krishnaswamy by offering an alternative constituency. A resolution could be arrived before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Madurai on March 1, said the BJP leader. Krishnasamy too signalled his inclination towards NDA on MOnday, when he attacked the DMK for Rs 5000 dole for women. A similar contest is unfolding within the DMK-led front. Tamilaga Valvurimai Katchi President T Velmurugan is keen on contesting from Neyveli, his home constituency, in 2026. After contesting Neyveli in 2011 and 2016, he was allotted Panruti in 2021, where he lost. Neyveli, however, is also sought by a DMK leader on behalf of two time MLA Saba Rajendran. Velmurugan said, "I would await the DMK's decision. But we do not intend to break away from the alliance if the seat was denied."Kongunadu Makkal Desia Katchi leader E R Eswaran has sought Pollachi, in addition to Tiruchengode and Perundurai. The DMK is considering Sulur for KMDK. KMDK considers Sulur as an AIADMK stronghold. "KMDK has been working in about 10 seats. There is a need for flexibility in allotting seats,'' Easwaran said. Political analyst R Deepak said alliance partners rarely walk out over denied seats in TN. ``The effect is subtler. When a party is asked to shift from a constituency it has nurtured for years, the leadership adjusts, but the campaign intensity at the grassroot would drop and vote transfer becomes uneven,'' he said.(With inputs from Yazhinian)MSID:: 128431461 413 |