DMK announces alliance with Congress in Tamil Nadu

Stalin said the Congress would contest from nine seats in Tamil Nadu and the lone Puducherry seat.

“The constituencies to be given to Congress will be decided in due course of time after holding talks with alliance partners,” Stalin said.

Media reports said the DMK was also in talks with the CPI and CPI(M), Vaiko’s MDMK, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi and Indian Union Muslim League to include them in the alliance. DMK is expected to contest from 25 to 28 seats

“It is a transparent pact made at the DMK headquarters and not in the secrecy of a private hotel,” he said. The AIADMK and BJP, which had announced their alliance on Tuesday, had finalised their deal at a hotel.

In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, neither the DMK nor the Congress could win a single seat.

The AIADMK-BJP alliance:

AIADMK, which won 37 Lok Sabha seats in the last election, has been appearing to be on a slide since the death of its charismatic leader J Jayalalithaa and the consequent rupture of the party. Along with the BJP, it will also be looking to revive its fortune.

"BJP to contest in 5 seats in AIADMK alliance - Honourable Deputy CM Thiru O. Panneerselvam Announces," the AIADMK announced.

Actor-politician Rajinikanth, who could have been a major factor in the election, recently announced he would not be part of the General Elections and said no party should use his name in their campaigns.

Another actor-politician Kamal Haasan, whose party will contest the election this time, has not announced any alliance.