Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin has announced the full seat-sharing formula and candidate list for the upcoming Assembly elections, confirming that the DMK will contest 164 out of 234 seats, while the remaining 70 seats have been distributed among alliance partners.

Stalin said the agreement took time because of detailed discussions with allies to ensure a fair and balanced arrangement. The Congress has emerged as the main partner with 28 seats, while other parties like DMDK, VCK, CPI, CPI(M), and MDMK have also secured their respective shares.

As part of the candidate list, Stalin will once again contest from Kolathur, while Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin has been renominated from Chepauk-Triplicane. Several senior leaders and ministers will also return to their constituencies, while some have shifted seats, making key battlegrounds more competitive.

One of the most closely watched contests will be in Coimbatore South, where Senthil Balaji is set to contest, turning it into a high-profile urban seat. Other important constituencies include Madurai Central, Tiruchi West, Mannargudi, Dindigul, Tiruverumbur, and Thoothukudi, where sitting ministers are seeking re-election.

The Congress will contest key constituencies such as Velachery, Erode East, Sriperumbudur, Cuddalore, Sivakasi, and parts of the Kanyakumari region, while hill constituency Udhagamandalam (Ooty) is expected to see a direct fight between major parties.

Left parties and other allies have also secured strategic seats, with CPI and CPI(M) focusing on select regions, while VCK and MDMK have been allotted constituencies with strong local influence.

The DMK’s candidate list reflects a mix of experience and new faces, with more than 60 first-time candidates. The party has included professionals such as lawyers, doctors, engineers, and PhD holders, along with 18 women candidates, aiming to balance representation and expertise.

The announcement sets the stage for a direct contest with the NDA alliance led by AIADMK, where Edappadi K. Palaniswami has already finalised seat sharing, allocating 169 seats to AIADMK and 27 to BJP, along with other allies.