Election Scene: It's down to brasstacks

Chennai, Mar 19 (UNI) Having inked seat sharing pacts with their allies, the ruling AIADMK and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), heading the two major fronts, are busy identifying constituencies in the run up to the May eight Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu.

Both the AIADMK and the DMK finalised seat sharing agreements with their allies atleast a week ago, but identification of constituencies is proving to be tough task though DMK President M Karunanidhi is confident the party will wrap up the exercise in a couple of days.

The AIADMK had taken a lead in identifying the constituencies as far as the Union territory of Pondicherry was concerned, but was yet to firm up the exercise in Tamil Nadu.

The party had allocated 35 seats to the MDMK, nine to the Dalit Panthers of India (DPI), two each to the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) and Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and one each to the Indian National League and the Moovendar Munnetra Kazhagam.

It is apparently taking time for some other parties to join the front, especially the nacent Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), floated by actor-politician Vijayakanth. The Tamizhaga Indira Congress, launched by rebel Congress leader Tindivanam K Ramamurthy, is also yet to be formally inducted into the front.

The DMK is ahead of its rival front as it had completed the exercise of identifying 13 constituencies allotted for the CPI(M).

With the Congress submitting the wish list last evening, the party is expected to finalise the process in couple of days.

The PMK, CPI and IUML, which were allotted 31, 10 and three seats respectively, had already submitted the lists of constituencies, they wished to contest. ''Now it is the question of sorting out problems in respect of some overlapping constituencies.'' a senior DMK leader said.

The much talked about tie up of Viajayakanth's party with the AIADMK is almost ruled out as the actor had declared he will align only with a party which offered to share power with it, in the event of victory.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has stuck to its decision to go it alone, is expected to rope in the Janata Party, headed by Subramaniam Swamy and come out with the list of candidates soon.

The BJP, however, kicked off its electioneering with Party President Rajnath Singh addressing a public meeting here this evening.

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