Overview
- Senior Tamil Nadu Congress leaders will meet the high command in Delhi on January 17 to discuss campaign plans, organisational readiness and seat-sharing for the 2026 Assembly election.
- MP Manickam Tagore said there is pressure to secure more tickets and a share in power, while downplaying any rupture with the DMK.
- The DMK has ruled out a coalition government, though party sources indicated Congress could get a modest seat hike if it furnishes strong candidate lists and supportive survey data.
- Congress is seeking roughly 35–40 Assembly seats, up from 25 in 2021, with a Kharge-mandated panel led by Girish Chodankar tasked to negotiate seats and explore power-sharing.
- Analysts warned that the party’s leadership tussle in Karnataka may weaken its bargaining credibility in southern alliances, affecting leverage in talks with the DMK.