DMK-front finalises list of constituencies

Chennai, Mar 29 The ruling DMK-led front in Tamil Nadu today finalised the constituencies to be contested by its allies in the Lok Sabha polls.

A final decision was taken at a meeting of the Election Committee members of DMK, its key ally Congress, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and Indian Union Muslim League this evening, according to a DMK release here.

As per the seat-sharing agreement, which was reached last night, DMK would contest 21 seats, Congress 16, including Puducherry, VCK two and IUML one.

Congress would contest in 16 seats, six more than it contested in 2004, and DMK also got six seats more than the 15 seats it contested in the last polls. Congress retained a majority of the constituencies it contested in 2004 including Salem, Dindigul, Sivaganga, Mayiladuthurai and Tirunelveli.

VCK was given the constituencies of its choice.

VCK president and dalit leader Thol Thirumavalavan, who was defeated from Chidambaram (Reserved) in 2004, was given the same seat this time, apart from Villuppuram, also a reserved seat, as both the constituencies have predominant dalit population.

IUML was allotted its traditional seat of Vellore.