Congress MP Manickam Tagore has publicly questioned the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's (DMK) leadership role within their alliance in Puducherry, ahead of the Union Territory's upcoming legislative assembly elections expected in April–May 2026. Tagore, the Lok Sabha MP from Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu, has asserted that the Congress party's Puducherry unit, commanding "over 26 percent of the votes," deserves greater recognition and a leadership role, especially when compared to the DMK's reportedly smaller vote share of 8 percent.

Tagore voiced his concerns via a post on X (formerly Twitter) on February 6, questioning the logic behind a party with a lower vote share leading the alliance. He further cautioned against the Congress party being treated dismissively within the alliance. His remarks follow a visit to Puducherry by DMK's election in-charge for the region, Lok Sabha MP S Jagathrakshakan, who reportedly did not meet with Congress leaders during his trip.

The Congress and DMK contested the 2021 Puducherry Assembly elections as part of an alliance. The Congress contested in 14 seats but only won two, while the DMK contested 13 seats and won six in the 30-member assembly. The All India N.R. Congress (AINRC)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ultimately formed the government after the 2021 election. N. Rangaswamy of the AINRC was sworn in as Chief Minister.

Tagore's public criticism highlights potential strains within the Congress-DMK alliance as they prepare for the upcoming elections. The MP has been a vocal advocate for the Congress party receiving due respect and a fair share of power within the DMK alliance, even in Tamil Nadu. Some sources suggest that the DMK's push for more seats in Puducherry could be a tactic to influence seat-sharing negotiations in Tamil Nadu. A senior Congress leader noted the need for synergy within the alliance to effectively challenge the incumbent NDA government, which may be facing anti-incumbency.

Jagathrakshakan has stated that the final decision regarding the alliance and seat-sharing arrangements will be made jointly by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and DMK President and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin. The Puducherry Legislative Assembly's term is scheduled to end on June 15, 2026, with elections expected to be held in April or May.