DMK Eyes Three Karaikal Seats as Tamil Nadu Talks Stall
DMK plans to contest three Karaikal Assembly seats as Tamil Nadu seat-sharing delays ripple into Puducherry, reshaping the Congress-DMK alliance.
In Karaikal, a key district of Puducherry, the DMK is planning to contest three Assembly seats as it seeks to strengthen its footprint ahead of the elections. The district has five Assembly segments, with the DMK currently holding Karaikal South and Neravy–T.R. Pattinam. The party intends to add Karaikal North to its list, a move party leaders say will boost organizational momentum.
The plan comes amid a delay in finalising seat-sharing arrangements between the DMK and the Congress in Tamil Nadu, which has spilled over to Puducherry and created unease within the alliance. Senior DMK leaders note that small constituencies in the Union Territory require close coordination, and the stalling talks in Tamil Nadu have slowed parallel discussions here.
Congress workers have already stepped up activity in DMK-held constituencies as a precaution, reflecting the interdependent nature of the alliance. A Puducherry DMK leader emphasized that the outcome in Puducherry would mirror Tamil Nadu: if the Tamil Nadu alliance is finalised smoothly, the Puducherry plan will follow; otherwise, both sides will adjust their strategy accordingly.
Overall, the move signals the DMK's intent to consolidate its presence in Karaikal and expand the alliance's reach in Puducherry ahead of the elections, even as negotiations in Tamil Nadu continue to shape the broader strategy.
