Congress and DMK leaders met after the deadline for filing nomination papers ended on Monday, March 23, 2026.
Cohesion in INDIA’s bloc alliance was put to the test after the Congress, DMK, CPI and VCK decided to field candidates in several of the 30 assembly constituencies in the April 9 Union Territory polls.
On Monday, the last day of nomination papers, as there was uncertainty over the number of seats and constituencies divided among the allies, candidates from all four parties filed nomination papers for the preferred seats.
Candidates have been asked to submit nomination papers by the respective parties in the hope that they can get the applicants to withdraw their papers before the Election Commission of India’s March 26 (Thursday) deadline once the leaders of the alliance partners agree.
After filing nominations on Monday, the DMK convention leaders met again here in the evening to agree on the number of seats and constituencies for which the parties will contest. A day after the discussions, the DMK on Tuesday released a list of 13 candidates with the names of the constituencies each of its nominees got. The party also allocated the VCK seat and constituency from its quota of 14.
However, the Congress was yet to publish the list of candidates and constituencies after negotiations with the DMK. Among the 13 constituencies that found space on the DMK list, the Congress gave Forms A and B (party authorization forms) to candidates in Kalapet, Nellithope and Raj Bhavan.
Former MOHF minister Shahjahan from Kalapet was among those from the Congress camp who submitted documents. “I have received the forms from the AICC and the PCC leadership. There is only one candidate from the minority community in the Congress. So far no one has asked me to withdraw the papers. My papers were accepted on Tuesday after verification,” he told The Hindu.
On Tuesday evening, Shahjahan began a door-to-door campaign from Kalapet, where the DMK has also fielded a candidate — A. Senthil alias Ramesh.
Puducherry Congress candidate MOHF Shahjahan starts door-to-door campaign from Kalapet where DMK has fielded A. Senthil alias Ramesh | Video Credit: Special arrangements
Meanwhile, Communist Party of India leaders, including party secretary AM Saleem, met DMK leaders to iron out differences in the INDIA bloc. Mr. Saleem and Member of Parliament and PCC chief V. Vaithilingam both filed nomination papers from Thattanchavady constituency.
Senior CPI leader N. Kalainathan filed papers from Ozhukarai constituency, from where Congress and VCK candidates filed papers. The VCK, apart from Ozhukarai, has filed nominations from Ossudu and Nettapakkam, from where Congress candidates have also filed papers.
Mr Saleem told The Hindu that the Thattanchavady seat was allotted to the party under the alliance during the 2021 polls. “Further talks are scheduled for Tuesday evening. Only the DMK has started the talks, we have not heard anything from the Congress party yet,” he added.
DMK candidates have also filed nominations in constituencies like Nellithope allotted in previous Congress elections. The party was trying to get these candidates to withdraw their papers by Wednesday.
Published – 24 March 2026 20:05 IST
