Puducherry Assembly Elections 2026 | Congress, DMK differences come to fore: Rahul, Stalin campaign separately

Chennai: Exposing faultlines within the long-standing alliance, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and DMK President M K Stalin on Monday held separate rallies in the Union Territory of Puducherry seeking votes for candidates from both parties. While Rahul addressed a rally in the morning with all 30 nominees, including 13 from the DMK, of the Congress-led alliance, Stalin canvassed for votes in the evening.

Though Congress and DMK leaders cited “logistical problems” and said that Rahul and Stalin – both had boasted about being brothers in the past – are likely to campaign together in Tamil Nadu, the gulf between the two leaders is evident. Rahul is understood to have been upset with the way the DMK has been reducing Congress’ share of seats over the years and was even in favour of quitting the alliance and joining hands with actor Vijay’s TVK.

However, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Sonia Gandhi’s decision prevailed with the party agreeing to accept 28 seats from the DMK. The party, after protracted negotiations, settled for 16 seats while allotting the remaining 14 to DMK and its allies in the Union Territory.

In his speech at the rally, Rahul alleged that Puducherry was not being run according to the aspirations of its people, but by those ruling at the Union Government through the Lieutenant-Governor. He promised to the people that the Congress was fully committed to granting statehood to Puducherry when it came to power at the Centre.

“We do not want the Lt. Governor to run Puducherry as though he is a king. The Congress wants Puducherry to be governed by the local people. So, we are committed to according Statehood to Puducherry,” he said.

Rahul also said the Congress will hold the local body elections if the party forms the next government.

In his speech, Stalin accused the BJP of not according statehood to Puducherry only to rule the UT by proxy through the Lt. Governor. He also accused Chief Minister N Rangasamy of surrendering to the BJP after threatening to walk out of the BJP led alliance.

“Mr Rangasamy, why do you criticise the INDIA alliance? You can’t even change a Chief Secretary and please remember what happened to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar,” he said.

Stalin also said efforts will be taken to accord statehood to Puducherry if the alliance came back to power.