BJP to contest 27 seats in TN, AIADMK 170-178

The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Monday finalised its seat-sharing arrangement for April 23 assembly polls in Tamil Nadu, with the Dravidian party allocating 27 seats to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), 18 to the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) andl to Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK).

- HT Correspondent

Union minister Piyush Goyal (second from left), AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami (centre) and other NDA leaders during a press conference in Chennai on Monday.

(PT)

The AIADMK itself is expected to contest between 170 to 178 seats, and its general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) said talks are continuing with other allies on seat-sharing and would conclude by late Monday.

According to people aware of the negotiations, the AIADMK may give a few seats from its quota to some alliance partners. AC Shanmugam, founder of the Puthiya Needhi Katchi, said that he has told Union minister Piyush Goyal, who is overseeing the BJP’s alliance in the state, of his party's willingness to contest three to four constituencies under the BJP's lotus symbol.

The NDA’s other constituents include former Union minister GK Vasan-led Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar) and India Jananayaka Katchi.