Puducherry election 2026: Can Congress return to power? | V. Narayanasamy explains

In this episode of Frontline Conversations, former Puducherry Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy speaks about the political landscape ahead of the 2026 Puducherry Assembly election. The discussion looks into the performance of the BJP–N.R. Congress government, with criticism on governance, corruption, and the unfulfilled promise of statehood. He explains the alliance politics and electoral strategy, with insights into Congress–DMK coordination, seat-sharing challenges, and the dynamics of coalition politics on the ground. The interview also analyses internal rifts within rival alliances, the role of smaller parties, and whether Congress is positioned for a comeback in Puducherry. Chapters: 01:09 | Failure of BJP's double engine government 01:32 | Statehood promise not kept 02:39 | Corruption allegations explained 02:57 | Counterfeit drug scam 06:28 | Alliance conflicts & seat sharing 07:24 | BJP's internal rift 08:56 | Governors Kiran Bedi and K. Kailashnathan 09:32 | Why Narayanasamy isn’t contesting 10:03 | Is Vijay a political factor? 10:14 | Puducherry statehood debate 11:21 | Communal harmony in Karaikal 11:54 | Nominated MLAs controversy 13:11 | MLAs Joining BJP 14:10 | Latchiya Jananayaga Katchi Perfect for viewers interested in: Puducherry politics and 2026 Assembly election Congress vs BJP vs N.R. Congress dynamics Statehood debate and Union Territory governance Corruption, policy, and governance issues Alliance politics and electoral strategy UPSC polity and current affairs preparation In-depth political interviews and analysis If you found this discussion insightful, don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to Frontline for more in-depth conversations. Subscribe to Frontline: https://frontline.thehindu.com/online... Follow us on: Facebook - / frontlineindia Twitter - / frontline_india Instagram - / frontline.magazine LinkedIn - / frontline-magazine-b12921295