AIADMK, BJP Near Seat-Sharing Deal for Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections

Chennai, March 2026 : The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are reportedly close to finalising a seat-sharing arrangement for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election, with the BJP likely to contest around 29 constituencies as part of the AIADMK-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Although formal negotiations among alliance partners have not yet begun, sources from both parties indicate that the broad framework of the agreement has already been shaped through informal discussions. According to the tentative formula being discussed, the BJP is expected to be allotted around 29 seats in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly.

Other key alliance partners are also likely to receive a share of constituencies. The Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) is expected to contest approximately 18 seats, while T. T. V. Dhinakaran’s Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) may receive about nine constituencies under the proposed alliance formula.

A senior AIADMK leader said both major partners have broadly agreed on the structure of the arrangement, though the official announcement is likely to come only after Narendra Modi addresses a major political rally in Tiruchirappalli on March 11.

“Formal seat-sharing talks are expected to take place around March 14, once the rally concludes,” the AIADMK leader said.

Earlier during the negotiations, Piyush Goyal, who has been actively involved in discussions on behalf of the BJP, had reportedly submitted a list seeking around 60 seats for the party. However, after several rounds of discussions, the BJP is said to have scaled down its demand to roughly 30 constituencies.

To persuade the BJP to settle for 29 seats, AIADMK leaders have reportedly assured their ally that it would be given constituencies considered favourable for the party’s electoral prospects.

Sources within the AIADMK also indicated that delays in finalising the seat-sharing agreement were partly due to the BJP’s attempts to bring actor-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) into the NDA alliance.

If those efforts succeed, the seat distribution among existing partners could be revised to accommodate the new entrant. At present, AIADMK is reportedly planning to contest around 170 seats itself in the Assembly election.

Meanwhile, AMMK had initially sought around 13 constituencies but the AIADMK leadership is said to have proposed nine seats. These reportedly include constituencies such as Sholinghur, Andipatti, Ottapidaram, Nanguneri, Pudukkottai, Harur, Melur, Papanasam, and Musiri.

Smaller allies in the NDA are also expected to receive limited representation. Two seats each are likely to be allocated to parties such as G. K. Vasan’s Tamil Maanila Congress, John Pandian’s Tamizha Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, and T. R. Paarivendhar’s Indiya Jananayaga Katchi.

Alliance leaders are also deliberating on whether candidates from smaller parties should contest under the AIADMK’s ‘two leaves’ symbol to enhance their chances of winning. However, the BJP is believed to prefer that such candidates contest under its ‘lotus’ symbol.

A final decision on seat allocation and electoral symbols is expected once formal negotiations among the NDA partners conclude in the coming days.