Overview
- An AICC five-member delegation led by Girish Chodankar met Chief Minister M. K. Stalin at the DMK headquarters, Anna Arivalayam, on December 3 to begin formal negotiations.
- The Congress reaffirmed its place in the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, ending talk of a potential tie-up with actor Vijay’s TVK.
- Party figures say Congress will seek more than the 25 seats it contested in 2021, with some sources floating 40–50, while talk of power-sharing has receded after the Bihar results.
- DMK leaders signal a preference to keep allies near their 2021 allotments even as partners, including Congress cadres, push for larger shares.
- DMK is set to engage other long-time allies such as VCK, CPI, CPI(M), MDMK and IUML, and there is political speculation that the PMK (Ramadoss faction) and the DMDK could be courted.