Chennai: Union Minister Piyush Goyal, the BJP’s election in-charge for Tamil Nadu, is arriving in Chennai today as seat-sharing negotiations within the AIADMK-led National Democratic Alliance reach their final stage. With voting for all 234 Assembly constituencies scheduled for April 23, the announcement of a finalized agreement is expected soon.
Goyal’s visit and scheduled meeting
Piyush Goyal has arrived in Chennai today. He is expected to meet in person with AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami to hold crucial consultations regarding seat-sharing arrangements. The meeting comes after Palaniswami’s recent visit to Delhi, where he held discussions with Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Leaders including PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss and AMMK general secretary T.T.V. Dhinakaran also travelled to Delhi, further intensifying political speculation around the alliance.
Expected seat allocation
Political circles are abuzz with speculation that during this meeting, the BJP is likely to be allotted between 27 and 29 constituencies in Tamil Nadu. Reports suggest that the BJP has requested key constituencies within Chennai city, such as Velachery, Mylapore, and T. Nagar. Since these constituencies are prime urban areas with a high concentration of urban voters, intense negotiations are reportedly underway regarding their allocation.
AIADMK’s committee and alliance talks
The AIADMK has already constituted a dedicated committee to handle the seat-sharing process. This committee comprises senior leaders, including former ministers K.P. Munusamy and Dindigul Srinivasan. The committee has been holding continuous consultations with alliance parties, including the Pattali Makkal Katchi led by Anbumani Ramadoss.
Contrast with DMK alliance
While the ruling DMK has largely concluded its seat-sharing negotiations with its alliance partners, negotiations within the opposition AIADMK-led alliance have yet to be finalized. The DMK has completed approximately half of its seat-sharing arrangements, while the NDA is now moving toward a final announcement following today’s consultations.
Election timeline
Assembly elections are set to be held in April across five regions: Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, West Bengal, and Puducherry. Voting for all 234 Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu will take place in a single phase on April 23. With the nomination process underway, the finalization of seat-sharing agreements has become critical for all parties.
The meeting between Piyush Goyal and Edappadi Palaniswami is expected to pave the way for a formal announcement of the NDA’s seat-sharing arrangements in the coming days.