"Vijay factor" and seat standoffs: Comprehensive Puducherry election update

PUDUCHERRY: Dramatic moves are unfolding in Puducherry as the April 9, 2026 election approaches. In the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), the BJP is reportedly being pressured to exclude the Latchiya Jananayaga Katchi (LJK) to keep Chief Minister N. Rangaswamy’s All India NR Congress (AINRC) within the fold. Rangaswamy has reportedly informed the BJP leadership that he will not continue in the front if the LJK—headed by businessman Jose Charles Martin—is not excluded from their seat-sharing quota. If he exits, the AINRC is expected to fight the elections in alliance with Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). Rangaswamy, a self-avowed fan of the actor, has recently received public praise from Vijay, fueling speculation of a "third front" merger.

BJP State President V.P. Ramalingam has officially denied rumours of a split, telling the media that the alliance remains intact and that they expect to follow the 2021 seat-sharing formula. However, the tension remains high as Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya recently returned to Delhi to consult the high command on the LJK issue. If the NR Congress leaves the front, it would be a significant setback for the BJP, as Rangaswamy remains the primary local face of the NDA’s campaign in the Union Territory.

Meanwhile, a similar seat dispute is rocking the Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA). While the Congress is demanding 15 to 20 seats to maintain its traditional role as the senior partner, the DMK—citing its stronger performance in the 2021 assembly and its role as the principal opposition—is demanding up to 18 seats. When negotiations stalled earlier this week, the DMK took the aggressive step of interviewing candidates for all 30 constituencies, with reports suggesting they prepared to field a full slate to pressure the Congress.

The DMK later clarified that several of its members filed nomination papers on Wednesday, March 18, because it was considered an auspicious day for the start of the nomination period. The party indicated it would withdraw these papers once the high command finalises the constituency breakdown. Leaders emphasise that there is no time to prolong discussions indefinitely with the March 23 deadline looming. Analysts warn that a rift in Puducherry could spill over into the Tamil Nadu elections, potentially destabilising the unified front of the INDIA bloc across both regions.