Chidambaram meets Stalin amid alliance churn in TN

In a development that has drawn political attention ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, senior Congress leader and former Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram met Chief Minister M.K. Stalin in Chennai on Monday, amid intensified alliance negotiations in the State.
With only a few months remaining for the elections, political activity has gathered pace, with parties engaged in alliance talks, campaign planning, public meetings, and the drafting of election manifestos.
The ruling DMK-led alliance currently includes the Congress, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, MDMK, CPI, CPI(M), and Makkal Needhi Maiam. Recent speculation about a possible Congress tie-up with the Tamil Manila Congress was denied by the party.
Meanwhile, the Congress high command had constituted a five-member committee led by Tamil Nadu Congress president Girish Chodankar to handle alliance discussions. The committee met Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on December 3, a move widely seen as reinforcing the Congress’ commitment to the DMK-led front.
Political circles were further stirred after Girish Chodankar stated that a share in governance was essential to fulfil the promises made to the people during elections.
Against this backdrop, P. Chidambaram met Chief Minister M.K. Stalin at the Chief Minister’s camp office in Alwarpet. Sources said the meeting, which lasted around ten minutes, covered the prevailing political situation, alliance dynamics in Tamil Nadu, Special Intensive Revision work, and Chodankar’s remarks on participation in government. The meeting has added fresh buzz to ongoing alliance deliberations in the run-up to the polls.