DMK and Congress Face Stalemate Over Seat-Sharing for Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections

Ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, the DMK and Congress remain at an impasse over seat-sharing, with Congress demanding 39-40 Assembly seats and two Rajya Sabha seats, while DMK offers 25 Assembly seats and one Rajya Sabha seat. The DMK cites commitments to new allies as a constraint. Concerns have been raised by local religious leaders about the potential impact of a split on the alliance. Communication between the parties has been limited, and Congress is reportedly exploring talks with actor Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, which the DMK views skeptically.