Ve Vaithilingam

V Vaithilingam, senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister, is leading the party’s campaign in Puducherry. He represents the Congress in the alliance with DMK and is a central figure in the Opposition’s strategy to challenge the NDA government. His political experience and organisational influence make him one of the most significant candidates in the 2026 elections.

Born on October 5, 1950, Vaithilingam was the 11th Chief Minister of Pondicherry from 1991 to 1996 and the 16th Chief Minister of Puducherry again from 2008 to 2011. He is a senior legislator serving eight consecutive terms.

His family has deep roots in Puducherry's political and colonial history — his paternal grandfather was Mayor of Nettapakkam commune during French rule, and his father V Venkatasubha Reddiar was also a Chief Minister of Pondicherry.

Educated at Loyola College in Chennai, Vaithilingam first won a legislative seat in 1985. He became Chief Minister at the age of 40, the second youngest to hold the post.

In 2019, he was elected to the Puducherry Lok Sabha seat and in 2024 retained it, defeating BJP candidate A Namassivayam by a margin of 136,616 votes.

For 2026, he is contesting from Thattanchavady as Puducherry Congress president, setting the stage for a direct confrontation with incumbent Chief Minister N Rangasamy.

The contest between him and Rangasamy — both former chief ministers who were once in the same party — has made Thattanchavady the most-watched seat in Puducherry.

Candidate Info: Ve. Vaithilingam is the Indian National Congress (INC) candidate contesting from Thattanchavady (General) Assembly constituency for the 2026 Puducherry Assembly elections. This male candidate is 75 years of age, according to the election affidavit submitted to the Election Commission of India.