Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
A few days ago, I went to meet a senior Congress leader off the record, who is involved in election management for the upcoming Assembly polls. Surprisingly, his residence was swarming with party workers from Puducherry, even as the deadline for withdrawal of nominations was nearing.
When I asked why, I was told that despite forging an alliance in the Union Territory, constituency-level negotiations and reconciliation between the Indian National Congress and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam were still underway. The reason: “friendly contests” had become inevitable in several seats.
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The senior leader told India Today that the seat-sharing deal within the INDIA bloc was finalised only after the nomination process had been completed. By then, both parties had already fielded candidates in multiple constituencies. As per the agreement, 16 seats were allocated to the Congress, while 14 were set aside for allies, including the DMK and the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK).
HOW DMK OUTPLAYED CONGRESS
According to sources, no agreement on seat-wise allocation could be reached by March 25, the last date for withdrawal of nominations. Taking advantage of the delay, DMK candidates filed nominations in six sitting constituencies and in seven additional seats that the Congress was also eyeing. The Ozhukarai seat was allotted to its ally, the VCK.
Expressing resentment, the senior Congress leader told me, “The DMK outplayed us in Puducherry by fielding candidates in our potential seats. We had no option but to put up additional candidates beyond our 16-seat quota.”
This resulted in the Congress fielding 22 candidates — six more than its agreed share — paving the way for multiple “friendly contests”.
FOES OR FRIENDS?
The Congress has officially maintained that it will support only its 16 designated candidates and has warned of disciplinary action against those contesting in the additional seats. However, with their names already on EVMs, the situation has become difficult to reverse.
As a last-minute measure, DMK and VCK leaders are now reaching out at the constituency level to manage these Congress candidates and avoid confusing voters. “Friendly fights” are now underway in at least five to six constituencies, including Nellithope, Kalapet, Muthialpet, Thattanchavady, Karaikal South and Ozhukarai.
THIN ON THE GROUND
The Congress and DMK now find themselves in direct contests across several constituencies — Mangalam, Thirubuvanai, Raj Bhavan, Kalapet and Karaikal South — effectively turning alliance partners into on-ground rivals.
In the previous Assembly elections, Congress was runner-up in Raj Bhavan and Kalapet, while the DMK finished second in Mangalam. Thirubuvanai, which was won by an Independent candidate, is now emerging as a key battleground, underlining the fragile coordination between the alliance partners on the ground.
– Ends
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
