Congress MPs nudge DMK over delay in Tamil Nadu election seat talks: ‘We’re ready, are you?’

Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin recently supported Rahul Gandhi amid opposition MPs' suspension, condemning it and pushing for clarity on national issues.

• Congress leaders question DMK over delayed seat-share talks ahead of TN polls
• Congress formed a panel, but DMK plans talks after election dates are announced
• AIADMK claims DMK-Congress alliance may weaken before 2026 TN Assembly elections

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Ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly election, two senior Congress leaders have questioned the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam over delayed seat-share talks.

A report by NDTV stated that Congress MPs Manickam Tagore and Karti Chidambaram said their party had set up a five-member panel for these talks, but the DMK had not.

However, DMK insiders said Chief Minister MK Stalin planned to begin talks after election dates are announced.

Congress leaders had said their party "is ready to initiate talks".

Tagore told NDTV that the Congress had formed a committee, which included the party's state unit chief, K Selvaperunthagai, as early as December 1 and "has been waiting for almost 36 days".

However, Chidambaram assured that “everything will get sorted out”. He also claimed that senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had reminded senior DMK leader Kanimozhi to form their committee.

"We have formed a five-member committee… ten days earlier Kanimozhi met Rahul Gandhi… Gandhi asked Kanimozhi to form their committee. It has been 10 days but still they have not… the question should be asked to the DMK. Why is there a delay in forming the committee?" he told NDTV.

The Congress allied with the DMK since the 2016 Assembly election and has been on the winning side in each of the 2019 and 2024 Lok Sabha elections and the 2021 state polls. However, the Congress has never been part of the DMK cabinet in Tamil Nadu.

According to reports, the Congress party wants at least six ministerial berths.

The DMK is understood to be reluctant to share power in the event of a victory.

Meanwhile, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Sunday claimed that a rift was emerging between the DMK and the Congress, speculating that the alliance could weaken ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

There also have been talk of a Congress-TVK tie-up but neither side has formally confirmed talks.