The Communist Party of India has decided to field its candidate for the Thattanchavady byelection in Puducherry.

Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, party secretary A. M. Saleem said the CPI would contest the bypoll whenever it is conducted by the Election Commission of India. “Once the ECI announces the date, we will declare the candidate. The party will seek the support of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, Congress, and other likeminded parties. As of now, we have decided to contest the byelection,” he said. 

Mr. Saleem said the party would organise a campaign to promote the slogan “change is essential’ in Puducherry next month. “In Tamil Nadu, a big change has come in the 2026 Assembly polls. People voted for TVK without the influence of money power and caste affiliations. Such a change is needed in Puducherry also,” he said. 

Criticising the AINRC-BJP combine for their failure to provide a functional government after being voted to power two months ago, the CPI leader said the power tussle between the ruling parties have delayed Speaker election and portfolio allocation.

People are confronted with several issues such as power shortage, supply of clean drinking water and drainage. The government has failed to address the problems because of the power tussle, he said. The CPI leader also criticised the tardy progress in the spurious drug manufacturing case.