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Kamal Haasan's MNM Demands 15 Seats for 2026, DMK May Offer Only 3

The Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) has held strategy meetings, setting its sights on contesting 15 specific assembly seats in the 2026 Tamil Nadu elections as part of its alliance with the DMK. However, sources indicate the senior ally DMK may be willing to allocate only three seats to MNM. The party, founded by Kamal Haasan, is focusing on urban and semi-urban constituencies where it has previously recorded better vote shares. Formal negotiations are set to intensify, with Kamal Haasan slated to be a key star campaigner for the alliance across the state.

Key Points: MNM-DMK Seat Share Talks: 15 Seats Demanded, 3 Likely

  • MNM eyes 15 seats for 2026 TN polls
  • DMK may allot only 3 seats
  • Kamal Haasan to be star campaigner
  • Focus on urban constituencies
2 min read

Ahead of 2026 TN Assembly polls, MNM pitches for 15 seats; DMK may concede 3

Ahead of 2026 Tamil Nadu polls, Kamal Haasan's MNM pitches for 15 assembly seats in alliance talks, but DMK may concede only 3. Details on strategy.

"MNM is said to have prepared a tentative list of 15 constituencies it would prefer to contest. - Sources"

Chennai, Jan 24

The executive and working committees of Makkal Needhi Maiam held a meeting at the party's headquarters in Alwarpet, with party founder and leader Kamal Haasan presiding over the deliberations.

The meeting focused on MNM's electoral strategy, particularly seat-sharing negotiations with its ally, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), ahead of the next Tamil Nadu Assembly elections scheduled for 2026.

Founded in 2018 by Kamal Haasan, MNM has had a limited electoral record so far.

The party contested the 2019 Lok Sabha elections independently in all 39 constituencies in Tamil Nadu but failed to win a single seat, securing around 0.40 per cent of the total vote share. In the 2021 Assembly elections, MNM again went solo, fielding candidates in 180 constituencies.

While it did not register any victories, its vote share increased to 2.62 per cent, indicating a modest expansion of its support base, particularly in urban pockets.

In a strategic shift, MNM joined hands with the DMK-led alliance for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Although the party was not allotted any constituencies to contest, the alliance accommodated MNM by facilitating a Rajya Sabha seat, making Kamal Haasan a Member of Parliament.

Against this backdrop, the meeting assumes significance. According to sources, MNM leaders discussed the number of Assembly seats the DMK might be willing to concede to its ally and assessed constituencies where the party believes it has realistic winning prospects. MNM is said to have prepared a tentative list of 15 constituencies it would prefer to contest.

These reportedly include Coimbatore South, Coimbatore North, Singanallur, Velachery, Mylapore, Maduravoyal, Ambattur, Tambaram, Sholinganallur, Koundampalayam, Srirangam, Tiruchirappalli East, Madurai Central, Alandur and Thyagarayanagar -- mostly urban and semi-urban seats where MNM has previously recorded relatively better vote shares.

However, alliance-level discussions suggest that the DMK leadership may be inclined to allocate only three Assembly seats to MNM. As part of the broader campaign strategy, it has also been decided that Kamal Haasan will be deployed extensively across Tamil Nadu as a star campaigner for the alliance, leveraging his statewide recognition and appeal. Formal seat-sharing talks between the DMK and MNM are expected to intensify in the coming months.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Good to see MNM getting a seat at the table. Kamal Haasan brings a different, cleaner image to Tamil Nadu politics. Even if they get only 3 seats, it's a start. Hope they choose candidates with integrity and not just party loyalists. 🤞
R
Rohit P
DMK is smart. They get a popular star campaigner in Kamal for the entire state, and in return they might give up just a few seats they probably can't win on their own anyway. It's all about political calculation.
S
Sarah B
As an observer, this is fascinating. MNM's shift from going solo to aligning with a major party shows how difficult it is for new parties to break through in India's established political landscape. The urban semi-urban strategy is their best bet.
A
Ananya R
Coimbatore South and Velachery mentioned! Hope MNM focuses on local issues like water and infrastructure if they contest here. We need MLAs who are accessible, not just big names during elections.
K
Karthik V
Respectfully, MNM needs to prove its worth. Getting a Rajya Sabha seat was a gift. Now they must show they can actually win and deliver on the ground. Starting with 3 seats is a fair challenge. All the best to them!
M

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