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Puthiya Tamilagam to Contest 60-70 Seats Alone After Alliance Talks Fail

Puthiya Tamilagam founder K Krishnasamy announced his party will contest 60 to 70 seats independently in the upcoming Tamil Nadu assembly polls. This decision comes after failed alliance negotiations with the AIADMK and BJP, where his party's demand for 12-15 seats and a Rajya Sabha berth was not met. Krishnasamy stated the AIADMK initially offered seven seats but later reduced it to five, leading to a stalemate. The party will release its first list of candidates on Sunday as Tamil Nadu heads for a multi-cornered contest on April 23.

Key Points: Tamil Nadu Polls: Puthiya Tamilagam to Contest Independently

  • Alliance talks with AIADMK-BJP failed
  • To contest 60-70 seats independently
  • Demanded Rajya Sabha seat for community
  • First candidate list due Sunday
2 min read

Will contest on 60 to 70 seats independently: Puthiya Tamilagam chief K Krishnasamy on Tamil Nadu polls

Party chief K Krishnasamy says alliance talks with AIADMK-BJP failed over seat-sharing. Party to contest 60-70 seats alone in Tamil Nadu elections.

"We don't want to go and surrender our dignity. So, we planned to contest alone. - K Krishnasamy"

Chennai, March 27

Puthiya Tamilagam Founder K Krishnasamy on Friday asserted that his party took up many efforts to ally with BJP and AIADMK, to root out the existing DMK government in Tamil Nadu in the upcoming state elections.

Speaking to ANI, Krishnasamy stated that his party will contest on 60 to 70 seats independently, and will release its first list on Sunday.

"To root out the existing DMK Govt, Puthiya Tamilagam took so many efforts to forge a big alliance with AIADMK and BJP. Even though AIADMK is very weak in southern districts, they are not ready to forge alliance with Puthiya Tamilagam party, which is a formidable force in Southern districts. We don't want to go and surrender our dignity. So, we planned to contest alone in 60-70 constituencies...We are going to release the list day after tomorrow," said Krishnasamy.

Furthermore, the Puthiya Tamilagam chief added that during discussions with AIADMK, his party sought 12 to 15 seats and one Rajya Sabha seat for representation of Devendrakula Velalar community in southern Tamil Nadu. He added that the communications stalled because, firstly, the AIADMK initially offered to give seven seats, which later came down to five.

"Discussions were held with Edappadi K. Palaniswami and party representatives seeking allocation of 12 to 15 constituencies. A key demand also included a Rajya Sabha seat for the Devendrakula Velalar community in southern Tamil Nadu...While the AIADMK initially suggested discussing seven seats, it later offered only five, and talks failed to progress further. Negotiations have now come to a standstill and the AIADMK is sidelining his party, causing disappointment among the Devendrakula Velalar community...Until then, the party will continue its preparations to contest independently," said Krishnasamy.

Tamil Nadu will go to the polls in a single phase on April 23, with counting scheduled for May 4.

The main electoral contest is expected between the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA), which also includes Congress, DMDK, and the VCK, and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by AIADMK with the BJP and Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) as allies. Actor-turned-politician Vijay is set to make his electoral debut with TVK, attempting to turn the upcoming elections into a three-way contest.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
As someone from the southern districts, I can say Krishnasamy's party does have a strong base here. AIADMK's arrogance in reducing seats from 7 to 5 shows they don't respect smaller allies. But going solo is a big gamble. 🤔
D
David E
Interesting dynamics. The demand for a Rajya Sabha seat for specific community representation is a strategic move. It shows how caste and community equations are still central to electoral politics in the state, beyond the usual Dravidian vs National narrative.
S
Shreya B
With Vijay's party also entering, it's going to be a very crowded and confusing election. Voters might get tired of all this alliance drama and just stick with the incumbent. Hope the focus remains on development issues.
A
Aman W
Respectfully, while I understand the sentiment of not surrendering dignity, politics is the art of the possible. A fragmented opposition only benefits DMK. Sometimes, swallowing pride for a larger cause is necessary. The goal should be to remove the government, not just win a few seats.
K
Kavya N
The Devendrakula Velalar community has genuine aspirations. If mainstream parties ignore them, they will create their own space. AIADMK should have been more accommodating. This could backfire for them in the southern belt. Let's see how this plays out!

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