TN assembly polls: DMK camp faces cracks as TVK quits, CPM weighs exit amid seat allocation deadlock

Chennai: Even as impasse continued in seat-sharing talks with ally CPM for the Assembly election, DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance suffered a small setback with minor ally TVK led by T Velmurugan deciding to quit the alliance over differences in seat allocation.

While CPM remained adamant on the number of seats, TVK insisted on at least two seats instead of one offered by DMK. So far, DMK has allocated 43 seats to alliance partners. While 28 seats were allocated to Congress, five were given to CPI, four to MDMK and two each to IUML, KMDK and Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK).

DMK meanwhile inched towards a final settlement with VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan, who agreed to take a cut, "with pain", from his demand for 10 seats. Sources say VCK would settle for seven, if not eight, seats.

CPM state committee held a marathon meeting on Saturday, which went on till late evening. The left party remained undecided as to whether it will accept DMK's suggestion to reduce a seat or exit the alliance. In the 2021 Assembly election, CPM contested six seats and won two.

CPM state committee meeting began on Saturday morning at its headquarters in Chennai, where extensive discussions were held. CPM general secretary M A Baby participated in the meeting.

Sources said CPM functionaries discussed implications of quitting DMK alliance, since they are part of INDIA bloc. "Baby was here to hear suggestions of all functionaries before taking a call," sources said.

Meanwhile, MDMK general secretary Vaiko visited CPM headquarters and met Baby. Vaiko told reporters later that he met Baby as he was his "long-time friend".

Earlier, Thirumavalavan openly expressed concern over the prolonged talks between DMK and CPM. The VCK chief said that the left parties would never go against the interests of the DMK-led alliance.

He told journalists, "It is painful when fewer seats are allocated to us. At the same time, we understand that the alliance should accommodate so many parties. The alliance has to remain firm to defeat the right wing,"