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Time of India
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
CPM demands more seats, secy continues tirade against DMK
Chennai: CPM state secretary P Shanmugam has reiterated the party's intent to seek more seats in the DMK alliance in the 2026 assembly election. "Contesting in more seats is as important as being in the DMK front to defeat the BJP alliance," he told reporters in Chennai on Wednesday. The CPM has signalled its desire to contest in more seats in the upcoming election over the past few days. Shanmugam reiterated that CPM will contest in more seats in the 2026 assembly election and that it will not be content with the six seats as in 2021. Nevertheless, Shanmugam said the CPM would continue to be in the DMK front. He said the focus was to keep the BJP alliance away from power in Tamil Nadu. The only party that has the strength to defeat the AIADMK-BJP front was DMK, he said. Shanmugam launched CPM's public campaign in Chennai "to highlight the failures" of Prime minister Narendra Modi-led BJP govt at the Centre in controlling price rise, reducing unemployment and protecting constitutional mandates and federal principles. Addressing reporters on the sidelines of the campaign, Shanmugam continued his critical approach towards the DMK, Shanmugam said he was not sure whether the DMK has fulfilled 98.5% of the poll promises as claimed by DMK MP A Raja. "DMK has not fulfilled its poll promise of providing monthly electricity bills as mentioned in its manifesto. There are many such and how can they say that they have fulfilled 98.5% of their promises," Shanmugam asked. Raja had said that DMK fulfilled its poll promises except that of providing family pension to the govt employees. Shanmugam wondered whether all the unfulfilled promises come under the remaining 1% of the poll promises as claimed by the DMK. Despite being part of the DMK front, Shanmugam has been critical of the state govt. On Tuesday, Shanmugam called DMK govt 'capitalist' and said the DMK cannot win on its own. Meanwhile, VCK president Thol Thirumavalavan also said that it was natural for any party to aim for more seats. "But, ultimately, the DMK would allot an appropriate number of seats," he said.
NDTV
19 hours ago
- Politics
- NDTV
CPM Seeks More Seats In Alliance For 2026, DMK Says Final Call Closer To Polls
Chennai: With Tamil Nadu heading towards a high-stakes Assembly election in 2026, allies of the ruling DMK have begun to share their expectations for more seats. The Communist Party of India (Marxist), a long-time ally of the DMK, has openly demanded a greater share of seats this time. CPM's State Secretary P Shanmugam on Tuesday said that the party expects a better deal in 2026. In 2006, the CPM contested 13 seats within the DMK alliance and won 9 of them. In contrast, in the 2021 elections, the party was allotted only 6 seats and won 2. The demand comes at a time when new political alignments are in play. Kamal Haasan's Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM), which has joined the DMK alliance, is also expected to seek its share of constituencies. Adding to the intrigue, TVK Chief and actor Vijay has offered share in power with potential allies if his party forms the government. This is seen as a move to pursue partners from the DMK front, making seat-sharing talks even more crucial for the ruling coalition. Responding to the CPM's demand, a senior DMK leader said it was well within the ally's rights to ask for more seats. "These discussions and decisions are taken closer to elections. The leadership of both parties will sit together and decide", he added. The DMK-led alliance has won consecutive elections, winning the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the 2021 assembly polls, and most recently, sweeping the 2024 general election in Tamil Nadu. With the DMK wanting to fight in enough number of seats to secure a majority of its own in the 234 member Tamil Nadu assembly, observers feel such demands from allies could then make negotiations a tight rope walk for the DMK.
New Indian Express
27-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Left parties, VCK plan protest in Chennai on June 2 over alleged fake Maoist encounters
CHENNAI: Left parties, including CPM, CPI, and CPI (ML), and VCK on Monday condemned the alleged fake encounters and killings of Maoists in Chhattisgarh. A joint protest will be held in Chennai on June 2 against state-sponsored violence aimed at suppressing tribal communities and those resisting the exploitation of natural resources by corporates and foreign entities, the parties said. In a statement, signed by CPM state secretary P Shanmugam, CPI state secretary R Mutharasan, CPI (ML) state secretary P Aasaithambi and VCK president Thol Thirumavalavan, the parties accused the centre and the BJP-led Chhattisgarh government of carrying out violent operations under the guise of anti-Naxal campaigns. 'On May 22 alone, 27 people were killed brutally,' the statement said. They alleged that despite Maoists expressing willingness to engage in dialogue with the government, security forces have ratcheted up their violent operations.
