Did Stalin's DMK give more seats to the CPI and CPI(M) as Seeman claims Kanimozhi is being 'sidelined'?

The CPI and CPI(M) have been allotted five seats each in Tamil Nadu after concluding seat-sharing agreements with the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). While the CPI(M) had insisted on contesting more seats, it finally gave in to M. K. Stalin, claiming it had to make a sacrifice for the bigger goal of defeating the BJP and the RSS.

While the two communist parties have been allotted one seat fewer in the Secular Progressive Alliance than last time, Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) chief coordinator Seeman claimed that Stalin was refusing to give additional seats to allies while simultaneously sidelining his sister.

Thoothukkudi MP Kanimozhi is being denied entry into state politics and restricted to New Delhi, Seeman alleged. This is because if the "daughter of Karunanidhi" enters the state political scene, it will hamper the emergence of Udhayanidhi as the next DMK stalwart, he said. M. K. Stalin's son, Udhayanidhi Stalin, has been the Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu since 2024 and is expected to take over the party's reins from his father.

Seeman cried foul over Kanimozhi being "sidelined" by the DMK while campaigning near the Old Bus Stand in Vellore on Tuesday. "Those who are unwilling to provide a seat to Kanimozhi herself would not offer one to the Communists. Kanimozhi is a strong personality, and her entry into state politics could pose a challenge to Udhayanidhi Stalin, which is why she may not be allowed to enter. Despite being born into that family, they do not consider her as one of their own," Seeman reportedly told the media.

Both the CPI and CPI(M) won two MLAs each in Tamil Nadu—the neighbouring state of the last standing communist bastion in India, Kerala. While an agreement was sealed between Stalin and Tamil Nadu CPI Secretary M. Veerapandian in the third week of March, the CPI(M) remained hesitant to accept the deal offered by its alliance leader. It was on 23 March that party secretary P. Shanmugam finally agreed to Stalin's terms for the greater good.

K. Marimuthu and T. Ramachandran of the CPI won the Thiruthuraipoondi and Thalli seats respectively, while the CPI(M)'s Nagai Maali P. Mahalingam and M. Chinnadurai were elected from the Kilvelur and Gandharvakottai constituencies. The Congress will contest 28 seats as part of the DMK-led fronts.