Feb. 27: The DMK is upset with long-time ally Congress party for its tough posture — 90 seats and announcement of coalition regime — in the seat-sharing talks but senior leaders in the ruling party exude confidence that differences would soon iron out and the poll-pact would be signed in the next few days.
“We are aware that some Congress functionaries are talking about leaving us and work out some other strategy, but they are just a miniscule minority there. Most Congress leaders are keen on retaining this alliance,” said a DMK MP.
Referring to the Congress demand for 90 seats, another DMK senior said the Congress did not have a strong cadre-base and would find it difficult to win without wholesome help from the DMK workers. The DMK district secretaries and our ministers will not be able to assist the Congress candidates in this election as they will have to sweat it out in their own constituencies. Giving the Congress too many seats will only help the AIADMK win in more places, he argued.
Leaders in both the DMK and the Congress are worried that too much of haggling over seats could cause heartburn in both the camps and hurt coordination between their cadres.
“It’s dangerous for the Congress to get adventurous. The party cannot go it alone and it’s too late for a third front, so they might as well agree to a reasonable number of seats,” said a DMK functionary.