85% decided, 15% are pending: Congress CEC meet in Delhi to finalise candidates for Tamil Nadu's upcoming elections

Selvaperunthagai said 85% of candidates have been decided, with discussions held among top leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi. The final list is expected soon, with Congress contesting 28 seats in the DMK-led alliance.

Speaking to reporters, Selvaperunthagai said, "All India Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi and senior leaders discussed the candidates. 85% have been decided, 15% are pending. Today we are going to decide."

He added that the finalisation of candidates will follow deliberations and approval by senior party leaders, ensuring that the selection process is comprehensive and strategic.

The ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) is contesting 164 seats as part of the Secular Progressive Alliance, taking on the AIADMK-led NDA in Tamil Nadu. The alliance dynamics and seat-sharing arrangements have been closely watched as parties finalise their poll strategies.

The ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) completed its seat-sharing process with alliance partners for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President MK Stalin, who leads the Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA), unveiled the seat-sharing arrangement, finalising the constituencies for Congress, Left parties, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), and the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), among others.

The DMK will contest 164 out of the 234 constituencies in the state, while 70 seats have been allocated to its alliance partners. These partners include the Congress Party with 28 seats, the Communist Party of India (CPI) with 5 seats, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) with 5 seats, VCK with 8 seats, MDMK with 4 seats. Other smaller parties in the alliance include the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) with 10 seats, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) with 2 seats, and several other regional parties.

Notably, the DMK has reserved key constituencies such as Kanyakumari, Radhapuram, Palayamkottai, and Aruppukottai for its candidates. The party has fielded CM MK Stalin as the candidate for the Kolathur constituency and announced Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin from Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni. Other prominent DMK candidates include Mahesh for Kanyakumari, Appavu for Radhapuram, Vahab for Palayamkottai, Kalaikathiravan for Tenkasi, and KKSSR Ramachandran for Aruppukottai.

In addition, O Panneerselvam will contest from Bodinayakkanur, and RS Kirthiga Devi has been fielded from Tambaram.

Further, Velu has been named as the candidate for Mylapore, while Ma. Subramanian will contest from Saidapet. The list also includes figures such as RD Sekar for Perumbur, Nazar for Avadi, and Subair Khan for Royapuram.

Earlier on Wednesday, a survey by polling agency Lok Poll projected that the DMK alliance led by incumbent Chief Minister MK Stalin is likely to retain power, securing 181-189 seats with a 40.1 per cent vote share in the forthcoming Assembly elections. Sharing the findings on X, Lok Poll wrote: "The most wanted Tamil Nadu Survey is out. Here's the vote share & seat projection from our mega ground survey: DMK+ --- 181-189 | 40.1%, ADMK+ -- 38-42 | 29%, TVK -- 8-10 | 23.9%, NTK -- 00 | 4.9%, Others -- 00 | 2.1%."

Tamil Nadu will hold elections in a single phase on April 23, with counting scheduled for May 4. The last date for filing nominations is April 6. Scrutiny will take place on April 7, and the final date for withdrawal of candidatures is April 9.

The main electoral contest is expected between the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA), which includes Congress, DMDK, and other parties. Looking to unseat the ruling alliance are the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) with BJP and Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) as allies. (ANI)