TN Polls: EPS Signs Seat-Sharing Agreement with Allies; BJP Gets Boost, PMK Faces Reduction

After several days of intense negotiations in Chennai and New Delhi, parties in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) have reached a consensus on seat distribution for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections scheduled for April 23.

The agreement brings together multiple alliance partners under the leadership of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, with its general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami steering the coalition's strategy in the state.

Under the finalised formula, the Bharatiya Janata Party has been allotted 27 constituencies, increasing its share compared to the previous Assembly elections. This makes the BJP the second-largest partner within the NDA bloc in Tamil Nadu for the upcoming polls.

Another prominent ally, the Pattali Makkal Katchi, will contest 18 seats, while the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam led by T. T. V. Dhinakaran has been allotted 11 constituencies.

In total, 56 seats have been distributed among the alliance partners so far. The remaining 176 constituencies will be contested by the AIADMK, though some of these may still be shared with smaller allies in the coalition.

The NDA's broader alliance in the state also includes parties such as the Tamil Maanila Congress, Puthiya Neethi Katchi, Puratchi Bharatham, Tamilaga Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam and the Indhiya Jananayaga Katchi. Formal agreements with these smaller parties are expected to be announced separately.

The seat-sharing pact follows weeks of discussions within the alliance, as partners negotiated their share of constituencies and electoral strategies. Senior leaders were involved in multiple rounds of talks, including meetings in Delhi with Amit Shah.

The negotiations concluded on Monday when Piyush Goyal visited Chennai and held discussions with state leaders. The agreement was then formally signed at the AIADMK headquarters, signalling the NDA's readiness to jointly contest the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

With the seat-sharing formula now settled, the NDA alliance has moved a step closer to launching its coordinated campaign for the April polls