The Congress and the DMK are likely to finalise their seat sharing for the Assembly polls later this afternoon when senior leader Ghulam Nabi Azad is scheduled to meet DMK leader M. Karunanidhi.
Congress sources said the party wants "at least" 40 seats given that the DMK doesn't have any major parties in its alliance. This is the demand likely to be put forward during the meeting between Mr. Azad and Mr. Karunanidhi.
"We are sure the DMK wants to bring the figure further down citing the emergence of the Tamil Manila Congress. But since the DMDK has not joined the front, they do have more seats to give," said a senior Congress leader.
The rationale behind the number 40 is that the Congress wants at least two seats in Chennai and one in every other Parliamentary constituency. Each Lok Sabha seat consists of six Assembly segments.
"This way, we would be spread out across Tamil Nadu and would help us build the party again," said the leader.
Meanwhile, former Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram held meetings with senior TNCC leaders K.V. Thangkabalu, M. Krishnaswamy and Su. Thirunavukkarasar at his residence here, on Thursday.
Mr. Chidambaram has reportedly stayed out of the committee that the party formed to negotiate with the DMK and identify constituencies.
Congress sources said the party wants "at least" 40 seats given that the DMK doesn't have any major parties in its alliance. This is the demand likely to be put forward during the meeting between Mr. Azad and Mr. Karunanidhi.
"We are sure the DMK wants to bring the figure further down citing the emergence of the Tamil Manila Congress. But since the DMDK has not joined the front, they do have more seats to give," said a senior Congress leader.
The rationale behind the number 40 is that the Congress wants at least two seats in Chennai and one in every other Parliamentary constituency. Each Lok Sabha seat consists of six Assembly segments.
"This way, we would be spread out across Tamil Nadu and would help us build the party again," said the leader.
Meanwhile, former Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram held meetings with senior TNCC leaders K.V. Thangkabalu, M. Krishnaswamy and Su. Thirunavukkarasar at his residence here, on Thursday.
Mr. Chidambaram has reportedly stayed out of the committee that the party formed to negotiate with the DMK and identify constituencies.