NDA Intensifies Seat Sharing Talks for Tamil Nadu Polls, PM Modi to Launch Campaign Near Chennai

Tamil Nadu, Jan 22 : Seat sharing negotiations within the NDA for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections are picking up pace, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi set to kick off the alliance’s poll campaign on Friday at a massive rally in Madurantakam, around 87 km south of Chennai.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal, BJP’s in charge for Tamil Nadu, along with party delegation members L. Murugan and state president Nainar Nagendran, met AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) at his Chennai residence on Thursday. Senior AIADMK leaders were also present as discussions focused on potential constituencies the BJP seeks in the southern state.

Since AIADMK’s re-entry into the NDA in April last year, the alliance has yet to hold a major public event, giving both parties a window to finalize seat sharing arrangements. TTV Dhinakaran’s Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) has also rejoined the NDA, while efforts are underway to bring the DMDK, led by Premalatha, into the fold. Former Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam is expected to return to the alliance as well.

As the senior partner in Tamil Nadu, the AIADMK is reportedly prioritizing seats in northern and western districts for itself, while allocating southern and Cauvery Delta constituencies to the BJP, where AIADMK had underperformed in the last Lok Sabha polls. EPS has also forged a seat sharing pact with the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) faction led by Anbumani, though details remain undisclosed.

The spotlight now turns to the DMDK, with political observers watching closely whether the party will join PM Modi on stage at the Madurantakam rally, which could signal a broader consolidation of the NDA ahead of the polls.