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BJP Unveils 9 Candidates for Puducherry Polls in Alliance with NR Congress

The Bharatiya Janata Party has released its list of nine candidates for the upcoming Puducherry Legislative Assembly elections, which it is contesting in alliance with the All India NR Congress. The candidates include A Namassivayam for Mannadipet and E Theeppainthan for Oussoudu (SC). Separately, the Election Commission of India announced the completion of the first randomisation of EVMs and VVPATs for the 2026 assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry. The final randomised lists will be shared with candidates to ensure transparency, and randomisation has also been completed for upcoming bye-elections in four states.

Key Points: BJP Announces 9 Candidates for Puducherry Assembly Elections

  • BJP announces 9 Puducherry candidates
  • Alliance with All India NR Congress
  • ECI completes first EVM/VVPAT randomisation
  • Process ensures electoral transparency
  • Bye-elections scheduled for April 9 in four states
2 min read

BJP announces nine candidates for Puducherry polls

BJP releases candidate list for Puducherry polls, names for Mannadipet, Oussoudu, Kalapet & more. ECI completes EVM randomisation for 2026 elections.

"Once the final list...is prepared, the comprehensive records...will be shared with all candidates to ensure complete transparency - Election Commission"

New Delhi, March 21

Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday released a list of nine candidates for the upcoming Puducherry Legislative elections, which it is contesting in alliance with All India NR Congress.

The Central Election Committee of the BJP met on March 18 to decide on candidates in poll-bound states.

According to the list, A Namassivayam will contest from Mannadipet, while E Theeppainthan will contest from Oussoudu (SC). PML Kalyanasundaram will contest from Kalapet, VP Ramalingame from Raj Bhavan and A Johnkumar from Mudaliarpet.

Embalam R Selvam will contest from Manavely, GNS Rajasekaran from Thirunallar and A Dineshan from Mahe.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday announced the completion of the first randomisation of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs) for the upcoming 2026 assembly elections scheduled to be in Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry.

Once the final list of contesting candidates is prepared, the comprehensive records of both the first and second randomised EVMs and VVPATs will be shared with all candidates to ensure complete transparency in the electoral process, the release said.

Additionally, the EC has also concluded the randomisation process for the upcoming bye-elections in Goa, Karnataka, Nagaland, and Tripura. These states are scheduled to go to the polls on April 9, with the final lists for both EVMs and VVPATs now randomised in preparation for the voting.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
Interesting mix of candidates. I appreciate the EC's focus on transparency with the EVM/VVPAT randomization. It's crucial for maintaining public trust in the electoral process, especially in a Union Territory like Puducherry with its unique political landscape.
P
Priya S
As someone from the South, I'm glad to see Puducherry getting attention. But I hope these candidates have a solid plan for the UT beyond just alliance politics. Water scarcity and preserving the French heritage are big issues there.
R
Rohit P
The candidate from Mudaliarpet, A Johnkumar, has a good reputation locally. Alliance strategy seems strong on paper. Let's see if it translates to votes. EC's process seems robust, which is good for democracy.
V
Vikram M
While I support the party, I have to respectfully say that announcing candidates is just step one. The real test is their work on the ground. Puducherry needs solutions for unemployment and better connectivity with Tamil Nadu. Hope they deliver.
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Michael C
The logistical planning for elections across multiple states and UTs is impressive. Coordinating EVMs for Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, and bye-polls simultaneously is a massive task. Kudos to the Election Commission for the detailed process.

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