CHENNAI — In a decisive move that ends months of uncertainty, the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the Indian National Congress have signed a formal seat-sharing agreement for the upcoming 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. Under the agreement, the Congress will be allocated 28 seats in the state assembly and one seat in the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of India’s parliament, in the biennial elections scheduled for later this year.

Agreement signed by key leaders

The agreement was signed on Wednesday at the DMK headquarters in Chennai by Chief Minister and DMK president MK Stalin and Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K Selvaperunthagai, who was accompanied by AICC in-charge Girish Chodankar. The pact comes after prolonged negotiations and speculation about the distribution of seats in the state, which is a key battleground in Indian politics.

Addressing the media after the signing, Selvaperunthagai appeared relieved and expressed satisfaction with the outcome. He dismissed reports of a delay in finalizing the agreement, stating that it was a normal process for any political party to have multiple rounds of discussions before finalizing seat allocations.

“It is normal for any party to have several rounds of talks before sealing the number of seats. That is what Congress has done. We are happy and satisfied,” Selvaperunthagai said. His remarks indicate that the Congress is content with the deal, despite earlier speculation about the delay.

Broader implications for Tamil Nadu politics

The agreement is significant as it solidifies the DMK’s alliance with the Congress, a key opposition party, for the 2026 elections. Tamil Nadu has historically been a state where alliances shift frequently, and the DMK has often relied on coalition partners to secure a majority. The inclusion of the Congress in the alliance is expected to strengthen the DMK’s position in the state’s political landscape.

With the current government led by the DMK, the agreement ensures a continuation of the existing political order, at least for the next election cycle. The Congress, which has seen a decline in its influence in recent years, is likely to benefit from the alliance by regaining a foothold in Tamil Nadu’s legislature.

The agreement also includes provisions for a Rajya Sabha seat, which is crucial for the Congress as it seeks to regain influence in the upper house. The allocation of one Rajya Sabha seat is expected to be a significant boost for the party in the upcoming biennial polls.

Future negotiations in Puducherry

While the agreement for Tamil Nadu has been finalized, discussions are ongoing regarding the upcoming Assembly elections in Puducherry, a Union Territory that also holds polls in the same year. Chodankar, the AICC in-charge, indicated that talks with the DMK have begun for Puducherry as well. However, he refrained from commenting on the Congress’s earlier demand for a share in power in Tamil Nadu, stating that the issue had already been addressed by the TNCC president.

The resolution of the seat-sharing agreement in Tamil Nadu is expected to have ripple effects on the political dynamics in the region. With the DMK and Congress now aligned, the opposition in the state is likely to be more cohesive, which could influence the outcome of the 2026 elections.

Analysts suggest that the agreement could also have implications for national politics, particularly in light of the upcoming general elections. The Congress, which has been struggling to regain momentum, may find itself in a stronger position in Tamil Nadu, a state that has historically been a bellwether for national political trends.

With the agreement now in place, the focus will shift to the implementation of the seat-sharing deal and the subsequent campaign strategies for both parties. The DMK, which has been in power since 2021, is expected to use its alliance with the Congress to consolidate its position in the state.