Chennai: The DMK, gearing up to release the party candidates list, is anxiously watching the fallout of the faction feud in the Congress over the 41 seats allocated for it as rebels in the national party are threatening to contest in constituencies allocated to the DMK.
With the faction leaders in the Congress preferring different seats for their followers, there is resentment in the Congress over the seats allocated to the party. Party sources say the seats wanted by the supporters of former Union minister P. Chidambaram have not been obtained by the party.
One of the Congress functionaries said “ As soon as the Congress team started negotiations for identification of seats, DMK treasurer M.K. Stalin started reading out the constituencies allocated to the Congress within 15 minutes. It showed that the list of 41 seats had already been given to the DMK, which has allocated the seats sought by the ally”.
According to Congress sources, the seats sought by Chidambaram supporters included Velachery and Neyveli, but they were not added to the list of seats wanted by the Congress. TNCC president E.V.K.S. Elangovan and former TNCC president K.V. Thangkabalu have received seats demanded by their supporters.
Even within the allocated seats, there is a stiff competition among Congress factions to get the constituencies for their supporters.
They include Mylapore in Chennai and Kattumannarkoil in Cuddalore district.
Congress functionaries said the scene of quarrel has shifted to New Delhi as the high command is expected to make a final decision on the party candidates list.
Chidambaram supporters feel that the total negotiation and seat allotment had gone against them and are pessimistic about a fair deal to them.
They are expected to follow the model of Aravakurichi, where party functionary S. Jothimani has openly declared that she would contest against the DMK candidate.
The DMK is keenly watching the fallout of the Congress faction wrangle and hopes that the ally would pacify the rebels and prevent them from contesting against DMK nominees since a few thousand votes could make a crucial difference in a close multi-cornered contest.
The DMK is likely to finalise the seat-sharing arrangements after the DMDK rebels headed by MLA V.C. Chandrakumar joined the alliance. The rebels who were not able to split the DMDK have formed a party called Makkal DMDK. Once, the deal with them and a few smaller parties is done, the DMK is expected to release its candidates list.
