Tamil Nadu polls: Congress seeks ‘due respect’ ahead of seat-sharing talks with DMK
Times of India
by TOI NEWS DESKFebruary 15, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Congress MP Manickam Tagore has dismissed rumors of a rift between the Congress and DMK regarding seat-sharing ahead of the Tamil Nadu assembly elections, asserting that the party expects "due respect" as part of the India bloc alliance. Tagore emphasized that Congress is a national party with principles and will not轻易 change its stance like other parties. He revealed that a committee for seat-sharing talks has been scheduled for February 22, after 70 days of waiting for formal discussions.
Tagore also highlighted the Congress's demand for constituencies where DMK lost in the 2021 polls, stating that power-sharing is essential for effective governance. This comes in response to DMK leader RS Raja Kannappan's claim that the party would contest 170 seats and win 160, a figure Tagore questioned given DMK's performance in the last election. In a recent post on X, Tagore pointed out that DMK won only 133 out of 173 contested seats in 2021, underscoring Congress's request for those lost constituencies.
Meanwhile, DMK Chief Minister Stalin has ruled out sharing power with allies, though he reiterated that the alliance with Congress remains intact. He dismissed claims of a rift as baseless conspiracies aimed at creating discord. The Tamil Nadu assembly has 234 seats
Verticals
worldasia
Originally published on Times of India on 2/15/2026