Congress MP Manickam Tagore Raises Questions Over Puducherry Alliance Leadership
Congress Member of Parliament Manickam Tagore has publicly questioned why his party's Puducherry unit should not take the lead in the alliance with Tamil Nadu ally DMK for the upcoming elections in the Union territory. Tagore's argument centers on the Congress party's significantly higher vote share in recent electoral contests, which he believes justifies a dominant role in the coalition.
Analyzing the Vote Share Data from 2024 Lok Sabha Polls
To substantiate his claim, Tagore pointed to the performance of both parties in Puducherry's lone Lok Sabha seat during the 2024 general elections. The Congress candidate, V Narayanasamy, secured the runner-up position with an impressive 26.35% of the total votes. In stark contrast, the DMK's candidate, AMH Nazeem, finished in fourth place with only 8.19% of the votes.
In a pointed post on social media platform X on February 6, Tagore, who represents Virudhunagar, wrote: "Will the party that got 8% of votes in the alliance be able to bear the leadership? Or will the party that got 26% be able to bear the leadership? Why should the Congress party in the alliance have to speak in a belittling way? This pattern continues. It's not good."
Political Tensions Surface After DMK Leader's Visit
Tagore's reaction came shortly after DMK's election in-charge for Puducherry and Lok Sabha MP S Jagathrakshakan visited the Union territory. Notably, Jagathrakshakan skipped meetings with Congress leaders during his trip, which has been interpreted as a slight by political observers.
According to sources familiar with the matter, the Congress party was not included in initial discussions with the DMK regarding the alliance framework. This exclusion has raised concerns within Congress circles about their standing in the proposed coalition.
Decision-Making Authority and Electoral Context
Following the controversy, Jagathrakshakan addressed reporters, stating that the final decision on alliance formation and seat-sharing arrangements would be made by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and DMK president MK Stalin, who also serves as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
Assembly elections in Puducherry are anticipated to occur in April, coinciding with Tamil Nadu's state elections. Currently, the Union territory is governed by the All India NR Congress-led NDA coalition, which adds urgency to opposition alliance negotiations.
Historical Performance in Puducherry Assembly Elections
Looking back at the 2021 Puducherry assembly polls provides additional context for the current debate:
- The Congress party contested 14 seats and managed to win two of them.
- The DMK contested 13 seats and emerged victorious in six constituencies.
This historical performance creates a complex backdrop for alliance negotiations, as while the DMK secured more seats in the previous assembly election, the Congress demonstrates stronger vote share in recent parliamentary contests.
The evolving political dynamics in Puducherry highlight the challenges of coalition politics, where electoral mathematics, historical performance, and regional political considerations must be carefully balanced. As election season approaches, the resolution of this leadership question within the opposition alliance could significantly impact the electoral outcome in the strategically important Union territory.
