Former Union Minister and Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, after holding talks with DMK leader M. Karunanidhi on Friday, said the two parties had not firmed up the number of seats to be allotted to the Congress.
“As far as seat-sharing is concerned, we just raised the issue. We have not firmed up the numbers. We have been given sometime. The DMK also has to think about the numbers. We will discuss among ourselves, with AICC president, PCC president and other Congress leaders. Next time we will be able to firm up the numbers,” the All India Congress Committee general secretary said.
Mr Azad said he had asked the DMK leadership to finalise the number of seats.
The main purpose of his visit was to discuss election strategy and about other political parties that were going to be part of the DMK-Congress combine. “We discussed that. One or two groups have already joined. The DMK leadership is expecting a few smaller groups to join the alliance,” he said.
DMK treasurer M.K. Stalin said Mr Azad had placed before the DMK his views on seat-sharing. “Our leader Kalignar also explained his position. Mr Azad will come back again after apprising his party high-command about today’s meeting, which was very cordial,” he said.
Asked about Mr Azad’s claim that some more parties were likely to join alliance, he said he was not aware of it.
“I do not know what his source is,” he said.
Mr Stalin, however, refused to divulge what transpired at the meeting, saying it could not be discussed with the media.
