AIADMK finalises poll deal with miffed Left Front

Seeking to mollify allies miffed over its 'unilateral' announcement of candidates for 160 constituencies in Tamil Nadu, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam on Saturday concluded seat sharing arrangements with the Left parties and other allies for the April 13 assembly polls.

The AIADMK is continuing its talks with the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam even as the process of filing of nominations for 234 seats begins on Saturday.

The hectic political activity in the AIADMK camp continued till the wee hours of Saturday, at the end of which the Jayalalithaa-led party managed to sign agreements with the Communist Party of India - Marxist, the Communist Party of India and other parties, barring the DMDK and the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.

The seat-sharing accord with the CPI-M was reached at 5 am on Saturday, under which the party, which had been allotted 12 seats, would retain most of its sitting constituencies. The CPI also signed the accord at approximately 1.30 pm.

With this, the dissatisfaction that surfaced in the wake of AIADMKs 'unilateral' announcement of candidates for 160 constituencies seems to have dissipated. Talks to identify seats for DMDK, the second largest partner in the alliance, remained inconclusive and were expected to be concluded later on Saturday.

The AIADMK had also opened talks with MDMK leader Vaiko, but the number of seats offered was unknown. Allocation for smaller parties like Manitha Neya Makkal Katchi (3 seats) actor Sarathkumar's All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi (2), All India Forward Bloc, All India Mooventhar Munnetra Kazhagam, Republican Party of India and Tamil Nadu Ilaignar Kongu Peravai were finalised late on Friday night.

After talks with DMDK leaders Panrutty S Ramachandran and L Sudeesh, AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa told reporters that the talks were 'cordial' and would continue.

Meanwhile, the MDMK is scheduled to go ahead with the emergency meeting of its top policy making body, as the Vaiko-led party was the worst-hit among allies by AIADMK's 'unilateral' announcement of candidates.

MDMK sources said Vaiko would take a call after today's meeting, amidst a feeling of disappointment among party supporters due to the alleged ill-treatment of Jayalalithaa's most loyal ally after they joined hands in 2006.

AIADMK sources said the personal intervention of Jayalalithaa had saved the alliance from collapsing and expressed hope that all the constituents would be happy with the final outcome of talks.