Puducherry Assembly election 2026: Congress-DMK likely to seal 15-15 seat deal in Union Territory

The Congress and DMK on Sunday (March 22, 2026) broadly agreed to share 15 seats each in the 30-member Puducherry Assembly, which goes to polls on April 9. The DMK would accommodate the interests of allies such as VCK from its share of seats, sources told The Hindu. The agreement will be formally signed soon to facilitate candidates file their nominations before the March 23 deadline. 

With the two sides unable to arrive at a consensus on who will lead the alliance in the Union Territory, yet again Congress veteran and former Union Minister P. Chidambaram entered the scene and met DMK leader and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Sunday to iron out the differences.

According to sources, Mr. Stalin was particular that the arrangement and coordination worked out for Tamil Nadu should also be applicable to Puducherry. He had shared his view that “if anything goes wrong in Puducherry, it will have serious consequences for Tamil Nadu.”

Mr. Stalin was not appreciative of the manner in which Girish Chodankar, AICC in-charge of party affairs and head of the seat-sharing committee, handled the talks.

DMK MP and former Union Minister S. Jagathrakshakan is in-charge of the party in Puducherry.