AIADMK-Led NDA Finalises Seat Deal with Tamil Manila Congress Ahead of Tamil Nadu Polls

Chennai, March 2026 : In a significant boost to alliance cohesion ahead of the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections on April 23, the AIADMK-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has allocated five Assembly constituencies to the Tamil Manila Congress (Moopanar), headed by G. K. Vasan.

The agreement was sealed under the supervision of Piyush Goyal, the BJP’s in-charge for Tamil Nadu, bringing an end to a brief phase of uncertainty surrounding seat-sharing negotiations within the alliance.

As per the arrangement, the Tamil Manila Congress (Moopanar) will contest from Ottanchathiram, Erode West, Ranipet, Killiyoor, and Kumbakonam constituencies. In a notable departure from tradition, the party will field its candidates on the Bharatiya Janata Party’s ‘Lotus’ symbol instead of its own ‘Cycle’ symbol, citing procedural constraints linked to Election Commission norms.

Announcing the decision, Vasan clarified that the shift in symbol was necessitated due to difficulties in obtaining approval for the party’s traditional emblem. He stated that contesting under the lotus symbol was the most viable option to ensure smooth participation in the elections.

The seat-sharing pact follows a period of friction between alliance partners. Initially, the Tamil Manila Congress (Moopanar) had demanded five seats, while the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam was reportedly willing to offer only three. However, sustained negotiations helped bridge differences, culminating in the party securing all five constituencies it had sought.

The AIADMK-led NDA in Tamil Nadu is a broad coalition comprising the Bharatiya Janata Party, Pattali Makkal Katchi, Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, Tamil Manila Congress (Moopanar), Democratic Party of India, New Justice Revolutionary Bharat, Perunthalaivar Makkal Katchi, and Tamil Nadu Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam.

Seat allocation within the alliance has been progressing steadily. The BJP has already been allotted 27 seats, while the AMMK has secured 18 constituencies, indicating that the coalition is nearing the final stages of its seat-sharing exercise.

With most arrangements now in place, the AIADMK-led alliance is expected to swiftly shift its focus toward campaign planning, candidate announcements, and grassroots mobilisation. The conclusion of seat-sharing talks marks a crucial step as the alliance prepares for what is shaping up to be a closely contested electoral battle in Tamil Nadu.