Chennai: The ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu on Saturday announced its candidates for the April 23 Assembly elections, confirming it will contest 164 seats. Party chief and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin also revealed the list of key nominees and highlighted over 60 new faces entering the fray.

The DMK has renominated CM Stalin from Kolathur and Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin from Chepauk-Triplicane. Other notable candidates include former minister Senthil Balaji from Coimbatore South and O Panneerselvam from Bodinayakkanur.

The party also completed seat-sharing agreements with its allies in the Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA). The Congress has been allotted 28 constituencies, including Ponneri, Erode East, Vilavankode, Sivakasi and Karaikudi. The DMDK, led by Premalatha Vijayakanth, will contest 10 seats such as Vriddhachalam and Pallavaram, while the VCK, led by Thol Thirumavalavan, will field candidates in eight seats, including Kattumannarkoil, Panrutti and Tindivanam.

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The Left parties, CPI(M) and CPI, have been allocated five seats each, including Padmanabhapuram and Palani for CPI(M), and Thalli and Bhavanisagar (SC) for CPI. Meanwhile, the Vaiko-led MDMK will contest four seats, with three under the DMK’s Rising Sun symbol, including Madurai South.

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Commenting on the seat-sharing process, CM Stalin said there were no delays, noting that “patient discussions with allies” were essential to finalise the allocations. The announcements mark a crucial step in the DMK-led SPA’s preparations for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly polls.