Tamil Nadu Assembly election: DMK and Congress finally seal pact for 28 seats, one Rajya Sabha berth

The ruling DMK and the Congress finally signed the seat-sharing pact for the Assembly elections after days of uncertainty and hard bargain. As per the agreement signed by DMK president and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and TNCC president Selvaperunthagai, the Congress will contest in 28 Assembly seats. This is three higher than what the party was allotted in 2021 in the alliance. The Congress has also been allotted a Rajya Sabha berth.

The alliance, which at one point, appeared to collapse over demands for power sharing and higher seats, was saved after Congress veteran P. Chidambaram stepped in as an emissary of the party high command and held discussions with Mr. Stalin on Tuesday (March 3, 2026).

Mr. Stalin reached Anna Arivalayam, the DMK headquarters, before the arrival of the Congress leaders on Wednesday (March 4, 2026) night. Girish Chodankar, AICC in-charge for Tamil Nadu and head of the Congress seat-sharing committee TNCC president Selvaperunthagai, Congress Legislature Party leader Rajesh Kumar and others met the Chief Minister before the signing of agreement.

Later talking to reporters, Mr. Selvaperunthagai said the TNCC and the Congress high-command would announce the candidate for the Rajya Sabha seat. “We are happy and have a sense of fulfilment,” he said.

Mr. Chodankar said formal talks on seat-sharing for Puducherry would begin on Thursday (March 5, 2026).

The DMK-Congress seat-sharing pact signed by DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and TNCC president Selvaperunthagai. Photo: Special Arrangement

The agreement confirmed the continuation of 22 years of alliance between the two parties which began in 2004, though there was a brief separation ahead of the 2014 parliamentary polls.

The Congress started with discordant notes, demanding a share in power, then an increase in numbers. As it hit a roadblock, Mr. Chidambaram was asked to negotiate on behalf of the Congress. After holding talks with Mr. Stalin they were able to reach an agreement, with the DMK increasing its offer from 25 to 27 and eventually to 28.