N Rangasamy, who has remained a central political figure in Puducherry politics, is expected to anchor the NDA campaign with emphasis on administrative continuity, development and stronger alignment with the Centre
| Photo Credit:
ANI

With less than three weeks to go for the polls on April 9, the race for Puducherry is just taking shape after weeks of infighting in the INDIA Bloc even as the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) managed to stitch together the unit faster. With the clock ticking towards the nomination filing deadline, it took a high-level meeting between P Chidambaram and MK Stalin to salvage a fragile pact for the INDIA bloc.

The Congress-DMK alliance entered the race on a shaky footing after prolonged wrangling over seat-sharing delayed preparations until the final days before nominations closed. After more than a week of tense negotiations, the Congress and the DMK eventually finalised a formula, under which the Congress will contest 16 seats and DMK 14 in the 30-member Assembly. This brought memories of the infighting between the INDIA Bloc partners in Bihar polls, where friendly fights between allies cost the alliance a number of seats and also mirrored the simultaneous seat-sharing conflict that has been on in Tamil Nadu for the 2026 polls.

VCK exit

However, the dialogue between Chidambaram and Stalin finally gave way to a broad arrangement, under which the DMK is contesting 14 seats, leaving 16 to the Congress. DMK is also allotting one seat each to the Communist Party of India and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK). However, unhappy with just one seat and without clarity on which that would be, VCK President Thol Thirumavalavan has announced that the party will contest independently from three constituencies – Oussudu, Nettapakkam and Oulgaret.

While both parties laid claim to several key constituencies in this process, the leaders of the alliance assured in a press conference that the partnership was solid and that differences would be ironed out by internal dialogue. However, with Thursday being the last day of withdrawing the nominations, the final picture of the contestants in each constituency is set to become clearer, and the UT can now go on to campaign mode.

NDA consolidates

In contrast, the ruling NDA moved relatively faster to formalise its electoral understanding. The alliance, led by Chief Minister N Rangasamy of the All India NR Congress (AINRC), finalised its pact with the Bharatiya Janata Party, while allocating two seats each to the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and the Latchiya Jananayaga Katchi (LJK). The agreement helped stabilise the alliance after initial disagreements, and allowed the NDA to move quickly into campaign mode.

Rangasamy, who has remained a central political figure in Puducherry politics, is expected to anchor the NDA campaign with emphasis on administrative continuity, development and stronger alignment with the Centre, themes the ruling alliance hopes will resonate with voters. Adding a fresh variable to the contest is the entry of actor-turned-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), which has chosen to contest all 30 seats independently. While analysts believe the party is unlikely to emerge as a dominant force in its debut, its presence is expected to influence outcomes in tight contests by splitting votes, particularly among younger voters and urban constituencies.

This multi-cornered configuration, with both major alliances facing internal adjustments, has set the stage for a competitive and unpredictable electoral cycle.

Key issues

Local concerns remain central to voter sentiment across the Union Territory. Issues such as infrastructure disparities, electricity tariffs, tourism-related pressures and concerns over law and order are emerging as recurring themes in campaign discourse. At the same time, industrial growth and the long-standing demand for statehood continue to feature prominently in the political messaging.

Analysts suggest the contest may hinge less on broad ideological narratives and more on alliance discipline, candidate selection and constituency-level dynamics. In tightly contested seats, marginal vote shifts triggered by smaller parties or local grievances could determine the outcome.

Political analyst Ramu Manivannan noted that the BJP-AINRC combine holds a “thin edge” in the fight supported by voter expectations around central assistance and Statehood. He added that Vijay’s entry introduces unpredictability, but may not convert into significant electoral gains.

At the ground level, residents point to limited anti-incumbency against Rangasamy, though internal dissatisfaction within party ranks persists. Infrastructure has emerged as a central issue. Voters like small-scale industrialist Raghavn in Villanoor highlighted stark disparities in development within Puducherry, particularly between the well-maintained White Town area and other parts of the city, underscoring demands for more equitable urban planning.

Data from the Association for Democratic Reforms show that voter turnout in the 2021 Assembly election stood at 83.31per cent, down from 85.08 per cent in 2016. Winning candidates in 2021 secured an average of 50.77 per cent of votes polled, compared to 47.12 per cent in 2016. With several constituencies expected to witness tight contests and some ministers facing strong challenges, the April 9 election is likely to hinge on local dynamics, alliance cohesion and marginal vote shifts.

For now, the defining feature of the campaign remains the contrast in momentum, an NDA that consolidated early versus an INDIA bloc that took longer to settle internal disputes, setting up a race where timing, cohesion and ground mobilisation could prove decisive

Published on March 25, 2026