Chennai, February 19: The Tamil Nadu-ruling AIADMK on Thursday inked a pre-poll alliance with the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) ahead of the upcoming high-stake Lok Sabha elections 2019. As per the pact, a total of 7 seats would be allotted to the Anbumani Ramadoss-led party.

Announcing the deal in the presence of Chief Minister K Palaniswami, AIADMK coordinator and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam said it has also been decided that the PMK will be allocated a Rajya Sabha seat. BJP-AIADMK Alliance For Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Seat-Sharing Talks in Final Stage.

Under the deal, the PMK will be supporting the AIADMK in the bypolls expected to 21 Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu, he said. A formal agreement in this regard was signed between the leadership of the two parties in a city hotel.

PMK founder leader S Ramadoss described the coalition as "an alliance for people's welfare, a mega coalition and a victorious alliance."

"To retrieve the rights of Tamil Nadu people, we have made a 10-point charter of demands," Ramadoss said.

The demands include declaring the Cauvery delta districts as a protected farm region, a caste wise census be held in Tamil Nadu and seven Rajiv case convicts be set free.

"This coalition will be successful in all the 40 constituencies in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry," he said. The rationale for aligning with the AIADMK will be explained by his son and former Union Health Minister Dr Anbumani Ramadoss later, he said.

Reports are rife that the coalition would also include the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), whose leaders have held meetings with the AIADMK camp. The seat-sharing formula, however, is yet to be finalised.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 19, 2019 01:26 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).