The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) of Tamil Nadu on Wednesday announced its seat-sharing arrangement for the upcoming assembly elections, and released the list of 65 constituencies allotted to its alliance partners across the state.
According to an official release, the AIADMK will contest 169 seats out of 234, while the remaining 65 seats have been allotted to its allies.
According to the release, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will contest the elections in 27 constituencies. Mylapore, Thalli, Modakurichi, Udhagamandalam, Avadi, Tiruvannamalai, Thanjavur, Coimbatore North, Nagercoil and Ramanathapuram, among others. Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) has been allotted 18 constituencies, namely Salem West, Dharmapuri, Vikravandi, Mayiladuthurai, Sholingur, Ambattur, Perambur and Salem North.
Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) will contest the elections in 11 constituencies, including Periyakulam, Mannargudi, Thiruvaiyaru, Karaikudi, Saidapet, Poonamallee and Nanguneri. Tamil Nadu Congress (TMC) has been allotted five constituencies, namely Ottanachatram, Erode West, Ranipet, Kumbakonam and Kiliyur.
Bharatiya Jananayaka Katchi (IJK) will contest in Pallavaram and Kunnam, while Tamilaga Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (TMMK) and Puratchi Bharatam have been allotted one seat each in Rajapalayam and Keezhavathinankuppam respectively.
This morning AIADMK released its first list of 23 candidates.
Earlier, on March 23, the AIADMK had confirmed 27 seats for the BJP, 18 seats for the PMK and 11 seats for the AMMK, indicating the seat allocation for key allies.
The announcement was made by AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami at a joint press conference organized in the party. The headquarters is in Chennai. The event was attended by Union Minister Piyush Goyal, BJP Tamil Nadu President Nainar Nagendran, PMK President Anbumani Ramadoss and AMMK General Secretary TTV Dhinakaran.
Along with this, Palaniswami also released the party’s election manifesto on Tuesday, which includes 297 promises. Key proposals include monthly financial assistance of Rs 2,000 for women heads and a one-time assistance of Rs 10,000 per family to tackle rising inflation.
The manifesto also promises additional ration support like pulses with rice, distribution of refrigerators and three free cooking gas cylinders per year for ration card holders. Additionally, the party has resolved to extend the free bus travel scheme to men as well.
Tamil Nadu will go to polls in a single phase on April 23 and counting of votes will take place on May 4.
The main electoral contest is expected to be between the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) and the AIADMK-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). DMK’s alliance also includes Congress, DMDK and VCK.
NDA’s allies include BJP and Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK). Actor-turned-politician Vijay is going to contest through TVK and is trying to turn the upcoming elections into a triangular contest.