Puducherry Congress Forms Committee for Alliance Talks with DMK Ahead of Elections
The Puducherry Pradesh Congress Committee has established a seven-member committee to engage in alliance discussions with the DMK ahead of the upcoming elections. Led by PCC President V. Vaithilingam, the committee aims to finalize seat-sharing arrangements and strategies for a joint electoral campaign. With elections approaching for all 30 constituencies in Puducherry, the Congress is collaborating with DMK and CPI, while the opposition includes the BJP and AIADMK. The committee's formation reflects a strategic move to strengthen their position in the electoral landscape.
| Mar 6, 2026, 19:36 IST
Formation of a Seven-Member Committee
The Puducherry Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) has established a seven-member committee to engage in formal discussions regarding an alliance with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and to deliberate on seat-sharing arrangements for the upcoming elections. This decision was made during a meeting of the PPCC's Political Executive Committee (PEC) held at the party office in Puducherry.
Leading the committee is MP and PCC President V. Vaithilingam, with members including former Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy, CLP leader M. Vaithiyanathan, senior vice president and AICC coordinator P.K. Devadas, former minister M. Kandasamy, MOHF Shahjahan, and former government whip and PCC vice president R.K.R. Anantharaman.
Alliance Strategy and Election Plans
Girish Chodankar, the AICC in-charge for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, announced the formation of the committee through a letter. This group is tasked with finalizing alliance strategies and seat-sharing discussions with the DMK for the upcoming elections. Chodankar emphasized that Congress and DMK will contest the elections jointly with other parties.
He stated that the seven-member committee will finalize discussions with alliance partners and noted that the DMK is leading in Tamil Nadu while Congress is at the forefront in Puducherry. After the election results are declared, the elected legislators will convene to select the Chief Minister.
Election Context in Puducherry
Chodankar reiterated, "We, Congress and DMK, will fight these elections together with other parties. We have formed a seven-member dialogue committee that will handle all negotiations with the DMK and other alliance partners, finalizing all discussions. The DMK is leading the alliance in Tamil Nadu, while Congress is leading in Puducherry. We are confident that the public will support our alliance. It has been agreed that the strategy adopted in Tamil Nadu will also be followed in Puducherry. After the election results, our elected legislators will meet to decide on our Chief Minister."
This year, elections will be held for all 30 constituencies of the 16th Assembly in the Union Territory of Puducherry. Congress is contesting in alliance with DMK and CPI, while the opposition includes the All India National Congress, BJP, and AIADMK. In 2021, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured a simple majority, leading to N. Rangasamy of the All India National Congress taking the oath as Chief Minister for the fourth time.