Puducherry election: DMK-Congress rift persists even on final day of filing nominations

Differences within the Congress-DMK alliance (INDIA bloc) over seat-sharing continued even on the last day of filing nominations on Monday (March 23, 2026) for the April 9 Assembly polls in Puducherry. Meanwhile, Puducherry Lok Sabha MP Vaithilingam (Congress) filed his nomination for the Assembly elections, prompting questions from allies over the decision.

There were hectic consultations between the Congress and the DMK in both Chennai and Puducherry on Sunday (March 22). As per the directions of the All India Congress Committee, former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram held talks with DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin in Chennai.

After the talks in Chennai, there were reports that the Congress had agreed to contest 16 seats in Puducherry, leaving 12 to the DMK and one each to the CPI and VCK, out of the total 30 seats in the Union Territory. Although there was broad agreement on the number of seats, the parties failed to finalise the distribution of constituencies, as was evident on the day of filing nominations, with candidates of alliance partners filing papers for the same constituencies.

The constituencies in contention are Thattanchavady, Nellithope, Kalapet, Muthialpet and Ozhukarai. While Nellithope, Kalapet, and Muthialpet were allocated to the DMK in the previous elections, Thattanchavady and Ozhukarai were allotted to the CPI and VCK respectively in the 2021 elections.

For the 2026 polls, Congress candidates have filed nominations in all five constituencies. Notable among the Congress leaders who have filed papers is Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) and PCC chief V. Vaithilingam, who is contesting from Thattanchavady. The DMK, CPI, and VCK have also filed nominations in the five constituencies based on the 2021 formula.

“If there is no intervention at the leadership level in Chennai or Delhi, we will end up in friendly fights in four to five constituencies. There are only two days left for candidates to withdraw their nominations. Damage has already been done due to the delay in reaching a consensus on seat-sharing, and the filing of nominations from the same constituencies has created further divisions among workers of the INDIA bloc,” said a CPI leader.

‘Why let MP Vaithilingam contest?’

The DMK and CPI leaders have also questioned the rationale for allowing Mr. Vaithilingam to contest the Assembly polls after INDIA bloc leaders in Puducherry worked ‘tirelessly’ to ensure his victory in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. “During the Lok Sabha polls, we had sought the lone seat to field our candidate, but it was not given to us. Later, we all worked tirelessly to ensure Mr. Vaithilingam’s victory. Two years later, he is being fielded in the Assembly polls. We do not understand the rationale behind this decision,” a DMK leader told The Hindu.

CPI(M) to contest alone

Though the context is different, another INDIA bloc member, the CPI(M), has decided to fight the elections alone considering the political factors in the enclave of Mahe, which is nestled between the towns of Thalassery and Vadakara in Kerala. 

The CPI(M)’ s political decisions pertaining to Mahe are traditionally aligned with the politics of Kerala. As the Congress and CPI(M) are leading opposite political fronts in Kerala, the Left party either fields its own candidate or extends support to Independents there. 

For the 2026 polls, the Thalassery unit has decided to extend support to T. Ashok Kumar, an advocate contesting as an Independent. The party has also decided to contest in Lawspet, Muthialpet, Thirubhuvanai, and Bahour Assembly segments in Puducherry.