Puducherry polls 2026: Congress, DMK to compete as rebels refuse to withdraw

PUDUCHERRY: Friction has surfaced in DMK-Congress front in Puducherry as some of Congress candidates have refused to withdraw their nominations from constituencies that were allotted to allies.DMK and Congress candidates had filed nominations in several constituencies before seat-sharing was finalized. The understanding was that Congress candidates would withdraw nominations filed in segments allotted to DMK and vice versa, once the constituency allotment was complete. However, a section of candidates have refused to withdraw their candidature.Congress contests 16 seats in the 30-member Assembly while its allies contest in 14. Now the party would be in contest in 21 constituencies, as some of the candidates in seats not allotted to the party have refused to withdraw their nominations.Congress ally VCK has also expressed its displeasure over Congress failing to get its candidates withdraw nomination. In a statement, the party said that Uzhavarkarai segment was allotted to VCK.But the Congress candidate who filed the nomination there was refusing to withdraw.