Cong-DMK seat standoff still on

CHENNAI: The deadlock between the DMK and Congress over seat-sharing continued on Monday with M K Stalin offering 64 seats to Congress and P Chidambaram demanding 90 seats for his party. With DMK giving away 31 seats to Patali Makkal Katchi (PMK), three to Indian Union Muslim League and 10 to its Dalit ally Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), the TN ruling party is left with 189 seats to share with Congress.

While the Congress is pressing DMK in the wake of the 2G scandal, hoping to wrangle a good number of seats post-poll, the DMK is keen to contest in at least 130 seats for a comfortable majority in the 234-member assembly.

VCK leader Thol Tirumavalavan said the deal was clinched with DMK supremo M Karunanidhi agreeing to give it 10 seats. The party, which earlier called itself the Dalit Panthers of India, had contested nine seats in 2006 with the AIADMK.

"We had submitted a list of 25 constituencies in the hope of getting 15 seats. But for the sake of smooth functioning of the alliance, we are willing to be accommodating and settle for 10," said Tirumavalavan after an hour-long talks with DMK bosses.

Earlier in the day, PMK offered unconditional support to DMK to help form government after the polls in sharp contrast to the demands made by the Congress. As if sensing the grim mood in the DMK over the tough Congress demand, PMK founder S Ramadoss gave his personal assurance of support at a family wedding to Karunanidhi and Stalin. Speaking at the wedding here, Karunanidhi compared himself and Ramadoss to a bride and groom and said though they may experience "some differences, we will stand united for a common cause".