Puducherry polls: Congress denies ticket to former CM Narayanasamy as nominations close

Leaving former Chief Minister V Narayanasamy and his supporters dejected, the Congress on Monday denied him a ticket to contest the election to the territorial Assembly, the last day for filing nominations.

After the Congress and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam finalised their seat-sharing pact at the eleventh hour, Narayanasamy, who was expecting renomination from the Nellithope constituency and had already begun groundwork, was denied the ticket.

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His rival and PCC president V. Vaithilingam, also a former Chief Minister and currently an MP, has filed his nomination papers.

Supporters of Narayanasamy, alleging that Vaithilingam played a role in the denial of the ticket, gathered in front of the latter’s residence and raised slogans against him.

In the 2021 election, Narayanasamy was made Chief Minister despite not contesting the polls. After assuming office, he contested from Nellithope, with the sitting legislator resigning to make way for him.

As per the seat-sharing agreement, the Congress will contest 16 seats and the DMK 12, while the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and the Communist Party of India will contest one seat each.

Both the Congress and DMK have directed aspirants—other than those who have been granted tickets—to withdraw their nominations.

The NDA had already completed its seat-sharing arrangement, with the All India NR Congress led by Chief Minister N. Rangasamy getting 16 seats, while the Bharatiya Janata Party, along with the Lok Janshakti Party, has been allotted 14 seats. The LJP has been given one seat within the NDA.

More than 157 candidates have filed their papers for the April 9 election to the 30-member Territorial Assembly.

Among prominent candidates who filed nominations are AIADMK state secretary A. Anbazhagan, former minister M.O.H.F. Shajahan, BJP state president Ramalingam, and LJP president Jose Charles Martin.