Haggling over seats still on in TN

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Unprecedented, intense haggling over seats and constituencies continues in DMK and rival AIADMK camps.
Overlapping of claimants is the major issue in the DMK alliance while it is numbers on the AIADMK front.

This time, the Congress is flexing its muscle while ally DMK is weakened by the spectrum scam, even as AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa is hugely confident she would be able to win without the Communists and Vaiko of the MDMK, which explains why she has given them measly numbers, take-it-or-leave-it.
When the DMK heaves a sigh of relief over finalising seat adjustments with the allies, especially the Congress, albeit compromising its self-respect, the next headache began over identification of ‘winnable seats’ with a belligerent Congress.
Seat negotiation talks between the DMK and Congress were to resume on Saturday. But the five-member Congress committee, including Union home ministers P. Chidambaram and G.K. Vasan, met at Satyamurthy Bhavan for over an hour only to disperse from there and not go to Anna Arivalayam to sign the deal. Sources said Mr Chidambaram has categorically said there was no point in negotiating again unless the DMK comes out with its final decision on 5-6 seats.
DMK sources said it would concede Erode West to the Congress. They said the controversy around Polur and Kalasapakkam was resolved with the Congress settling for Kalasapakkam and PMK willing to take Polur.
Another thorny issue surrounds Thittakudi in Cuddalore district. Congress also demands Thiru Vi.Ka. Nagar (reserved) seat while the DMK offers Poonamallee (reserved). The national party seeks Aravakurichi Coimbatore South, Perundurai, Chengalpet, Papanasam, Pallavaram and Dindigul. The DMK has offered T. Nagar, Mylapore and Royapuram but the Congress preferred Velacheri over Mylapore besides Thiru Vi.Ka. Nagar.
While the Vanniyar-backed PMK is eyeing seats in its stronghold of northern districts, the DMK team told them to take at least half-a-dozen seats in southern and western districts since there is no pressure there.