VCK Breaks DMK-Congress Pact, Will Contest 3 Seats in Puducherry
VCK Breaks DMK-Congress Pact, Will Contest 3 Seats in Puducherry
VCK to contest Ossudu, Nettappakkam and Uzhavarkarai in Puducherry, backing the secular alliance in 27 other seats amid seat-sharing tensions within the INDIA bloc.
In a surprise turn ahead of Puducherry's Assembly elections, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) founder Thol. Thirumavalavan announced the party will contest alone in three assembly constituencies — Ossudu, Nettappakkam, and Uzhavarkarai — while extending support to the secular Congress-DMK alliance in the remaining 27 constituencies. He said the decision comes after growing dissatisfaction with the seat-sharing arrangement, which had left VCK with a single seat in the UT.
Thirumavalavan argued that the DMK-House offered only one constituency to the VCK, and even that allocation remained unclear as nominations were filed with VCK candidates and Congress candidates contesting in the same seats. He described the situation as a source of unnecessary mental stress for party functionaries, stressing that the VCK has long been part of Puducherry's Secular Progressive Alliance.
Historically, the VCK has had a fluctuating seat share within the alliance. In 2001, the party contested two seats under the DMK-led umbrella, and in 2021 the Congress allotted only Uzhavarkarai to the VCK. With this move, the party is signaling its aim for greater regional representation and even broader ambitions, including the possibility of winning double-digit seats and pursuing a Rajya Sabha seat from Tamil Nadu in the future.
Observers say the development could recalibrate the alliance dynamics in Puducherry, potentially drawing votes from groups seeking stronger regional voices. As the election draws closer, the decisions will test the cohesiveness of the INDIA bloc in the UT and reveal how far regional parties are willing to push for greater autonomy within national frameworks.
VCK’s stand reflects a broader trend of regional parties reassessing ties with national players to secure influence and leverage in their home states. The coming weeks will show how the alliance adapts to this new arrangement and whether the three-seat solo run in Ossudu, Nettappakkam, and Uzhavarkarai changes the electoral arithmetic in Puducherry.
