Differences within the INDIA bloc in Puducherry have come out in the open with the principal Opposition, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, excluding the Congress in the seat-sharing talks initiated with constituent parties for the ensuing Assembly polls in the Union Territory.
At the invitation of DMK leadership, leaders belonging to the Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi visited the Dravidian party’s office at Laporte Street on Tuesday morning. After their arrival, DMK leaders led by party MP. S. Jagathrakshakan and Opposition leader R. Siva, held separate closed-door meetings with key functionaries of the three alliance parties.
Though DMK leadership tried to downplay the importance of the meeting by stating it was the decision of the alliance party leaders to pay a courtesy call on Mr. Jagathrakshakan as he was made in-charge of elections in the Union Territory, VCK and Left party functionaries said they were invited for preliminary discussion on seat sharing.
“I wanted to meet the alliance party leaders as I am DMK in-charge for polls. I thought of meeting them at their residence, but they came to our office to greet me,” Mr. Jagathrakshakan informed the media persons waiting outside the DMK office.
Shortly after the meeting, VCK principal secretary Arima Tamizhan told reporters that the DMK wanted to know about the seats VCK was interested to contest in the Union Territory. “The DMK was informed about our plans to field candidates in Ozhukarai, Nettapakkam and Ossudu constituencies,” he said.
When the CPI’s reaction was sought, party secretary A. M. Saleem said the DMK had invited the Left parties and the VCK for discussing the Assembly polls in Puducherry. “We are keen to contest the polls under DMK leadership like in Tamil Nadu. The Tamil Nadu model of alliance will be good for the INDIA bloc in Puducherry also. At Tuesday’s meeting, we have evinced interest to field candidates in Thattanchavady, Kamaraj Nagar, Nellithope and Ozhukarai constituencies. The meeting went on well with DMK leaders,” Mr. Saleem told The Hindu.
Echoing the comments, CPI (M) leader V. Perumal said the DMK was informed about his party’s interest to contest from Lawspet and Thirubhuvanai constituencies. “It was a preliminary meeting to discuss seat sharing arrangements in Puducherry,” he said.
‘Govt. under Congress leadership’
Just as the meeting was on at DMK office, a few yards away, former Chief Minister and Congress leader V. Narayanasamy was briefing media persons at his residence on his party’s determination to overthrow the AINRC-BJP government in 2026 polls.
While stating that he was unaware of any meeting convened by the DMK, the former Chief Minister said, “We are sure of the INDIA bloc emerging victorious in the 2026 polls and forming a government under the Congress leadership. The question of alliance and seat sharing will be decided by the Congress party’s high command,” he noted.
Dravidian Model government
After the 2021 Assembly polls in which DMK secured more seats than Congress and became the Principal Opposition, the party’s Puducherry leadership has been harbouring ambition of leading the INDIA bloc in the Union Territory. In December last year, Mr. Jagathrakshakan while attending a party meeting had given a call to the cadre to work towards installing a Dravidian model of governance in Puducherry. “We should strive to win 30 seats to form a Dravidian model of government like in Tamil Nadu,” he had said in the meeting.
The DMK last formed a government in Puducherry around 25 years ago. After that, the Dravidian party had only played a second fiddle to the Congress in all the polls. The party’s fortunes changed in the last elections, after it won 6 of the 13 seats it contested in alliance with the Congress, CPI and VCK. The Congress could manage to secure only two of the 14 seats it contested.
Published – February 03, 2026 08:19 pm IST
