Tensions are running high in Puducherry’s political circles as the April 9 Assembly elections approach. Veteran Congress figure P. Chidambaram will meet Tamil Nadu CM M.K. Stalin tomorrow, just hours before the nomination deadline, in a bid to iron out seat-sharing differences between DMK and Congress.
What started as optimistic alliance talks has turned into a high-stakes standoff. Congress demands 17 of the 30 seats, proposing 11 for DMK plus single seats for allies VCK and CPI. DMK counters with calls for parity, stalling progress despite frantic negotiations.
Drama unfolded Saturday when DMK’s Jagathrakshakan-led team endured a 12-hour wait at a hotel for Congress negotiators, only to be stood up. The no-show forced their return to Chennai, with parallel Congress huddles excluding DMK adding to the friction.
Jagathrakshakan remains optimistic about the partnership but acknowledges strained channels. With time slipping away, DMK is contemplating solo runs or new pacts. Chidambaram’s intervention with Stalin is seen as the alliance’s final lifeline.
Observers note this meeting could pivot the election landscape. A deal would strengthen the united front against the BJP-backed government, while a split might fragment opposition votes. Puducherry’s 30 seats are up for grabs in a fiercely contested battle, and every alliance move carries weight.
Beyond seats, the talks underscore alliance fault lines in southern politics, with implications for national opposition unity.