The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) recently released its third and final list of candidates for the April 23 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

The party, which is heading the alliance, has retained the bulk of the constituencies which it had won in the 2021 Assembly election.

Seat share of each party in the AIADMK-led NDA alliance

AIADMK - 167

BJP - 27

PMK - 18

AMMK - 11

TMC(M) - 5

IJK - 2

Tamilaga Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam - 1

Puratchi Bharatham - 1

The New Justice party- 1

Singa Tamilar Munnetra Kazhagam - 1

AIADMK-led NDA alliance seat-sharing

Of the 234 Assembly constituencies in the State, the AIADMK will contest in 167 constituencies, while the remaining seats have been allotted to its alliance partners.

The BJP, a key constituent of the AIADMK-led National Democratic Alliance in Tamil Nadu, has been allotted 27 seats, seven more than the number it had contested in 2021.

The Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) has been allotted 18 constituencies, five less than what it had contested five years ago. The reduction in the number of seats for the PMK is attributed to the perception that the party no longer enjoys as much strength as it did a few years ago, as former Union Minister Anbumani Ramadoss and his father and PMK founder S. Ramadoss are heading their own factions. Dr. Anbumani’s PMK is part of the NDA.

T.T.V. Dhinakaran’s the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK), a breakaway group of the AIADMK, has got 11 seats. The Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar) has been given five seats and will contest on the BJP’s lotus symbol in Oddanchathiram, Erode West, Ranipet, Killiyoor, and Kumbakonam.

The Indiya Jananayaka Katchi (IJK), led by T.R. Paarivendhar, will contest from two constituencies, Pallavaram and Kunnam. Puratchi Bharatham, headed by Poovai Jaganmoorthy, will contest one seat.

In addition, the Tamilaga Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (TMMK), led by John Pandian, has been allotted the Rajapalayam constituency. The New Justice Party and the Singa Tamilar Munnetra Kazhagam (STMK) have been allotted one seat each.

Seat-sharing in delta region

In the central districts, the AIADMK has allocated 12 of the 41 constituencies to its NDA partners. The central belt comprises Tiruchi, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Pudukkottai, Ariyalur, Perambalur, and Karur districts.

The AMMK has been allotted Tiruchi West, Mannargudi in Tiruvarur district, and Thiruvaiyaru in Thanjavur district. The PMK will contest from Kilvelur (SC) in Nagapattinam district and Mayiladuthurai.

The BJP has secured the highest number of seats among the allies in the central region, with five constituencies, namely Gandharvakottai (SC), Aranthangi, and Pudukkottai (all three in Pudukkottai district), and the Thanjavur and Tiruvarur constituencies in their respective districts.

The Tamil Maanila Congress has been allotted Kumbakonam in Thanjavur district, while the Indiya Jananayaka Katchi will contest from Kunnam in Perambalur district. The remaining 29 constituencies in the central region will be contested by the AIADMK.

Seat-sharing in southern districts

The AIADMK has allotted 19 Assembly constituencies in 10 southern districts to its allies, with BJP emerging as the principal beneficiary, securing 12 seats. The AMMK will contest four seats, while the Tamil Maanila Congress and the Tamizhaga Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam have been allotted two and one seat, respectively.

In Kanniyakumari district, the AIADMK has ceded five of the six Assembly constituencies to its allies, four to the BJP and one, Killiyoor, to the TMC. The party will retain the Kanniyakumari Assembly constituency, which was won by N. Dhalavai Sundaram in the 2021 Assembly election. Overall, the AIADMK is set to contest 39 of the 58 Assembly seats in the southern districts.

Seat-sharing in western belt

In the western region, one of the party’s traditional strongholds, the AIADMK will contest in 31 constituencies. The region is also the home turf of several senior party leaders, including general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, who represents Edappadi, deputy general secretary K.P. Munusamy from Veppanahalli, and former Ministers P. Thangamani from Kumarapalayam and S.P. Velumani from Thondamuthur.

Seat-sharing in the northern belt

Of the 78 constituencies in the northern Tamil Nadu belt including the districts of Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Chennai Chengalpattu, Vellore, Ranipet, Tirupattur, Tiruvannamalai, Kallakurichi, Villupuram and Cuddalore, the BJP has been allotted Mylapore, Avadi, and Tiruvannamalai constituencies.

The PMK, which hold sway among a section of the Vanniyar community, has been allotted the following constituencies in north Tamil Nadu: Polur, Gingee, Virudhachalam, Vikravandi, Solingar, Rishivandiyam, Kattumannarkoil, Perambur, Ambattur, Thiruporur, and Uthiramerur.

The AMMK has been allotted Saidapet, Tirupattur, and Poonamallee (SC). The TMC (M) has been allotted Ranipet, while the IJK has been allotted Pallavaram constituency. Kilvaithinankuppam constituency has been assigned to the Puratchi Bharatham party.

In Chennai, the AIADMK will contest 13 of the 16 Assembly constituencies.

Seat-sharing in reserved constituencies

The AIADMK has also allotted 11 of the constituencies reserved for Scheduled Castes to its allies.

Of these, five constituencies, Avanashi, Rasipuram, Gandharvakottai, Vasudevanallur, and Manamadurai, have been earmarked for the BJP. Periyakulam, Ottapidaram and Poonamallee, have been allocated to the AMMK, while Kattumannarkoil and Kilvelur, have gone to the PMK. Kilvaithinankuppam (K.V. Kuppam), has been allotted to Puratchi Bharatham. Totally, there are 44 SC constituencies in the State.