Communist Party of India (Marxist) State secretary P. Shanmugam on Wednesday said his party will negotiate for more seats to contest when compared to the 2021 Assembly election during the seat sharing talks with the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) for the 2026 Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu.

Speaking to journalists in Chennai, Mr. Shanmugam said the CPI (M) will take out a State-wide campaign till June 20 to condemn the “anti-people” policies of the BJP government at the Centre while also urging the state government to fulfil pending poll promises. CPI (M) general secretary M.A. Baby will address a public meeting at Ambattur on the culminating day, he added.

According to him, the DMK government has been implementing several welfare measures for the benefit of people. However, it should, in the remaining 10 months to the upcoming Assembly elections, fulfil all the poll promises given during the 2021 elections including monthly calculation of electricity tariff, he said.

He alleged that across India, the BJP is involved in “divisive politics” in the name of religion. “Under the guise of organising a conference of Lord Murugan devotees in Madurai later this month, the BJP is attempting to push forward its political agenda,” he said.