Puducherry elections: 9.41 lakh voters to choose from among 344 candidates in the union territory
While the ruling AINRC, as well as the BJP and PMK are contesting independently, the Congress and DMK formed an alliance for the polls.
Polling began in the union territory of Puducherry at 7 am on Monday. As many as 9.41 lakh people on the electoral rolls will cast their votes at 930 polling stations to elect 30 members to the territorial Assembly. There are 344 contestants, including 96 independents, in the fray. Puducherry saw a 50.43% turnout till 1 pm, The Hindu reported.
Voting has been spread across the 30 segments in Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam. The maximum number of candidates – 17 – are contesting from the Oulgaret segment. Voters Verifiable Print Audit Trail machines are being used in three of the 30 segments for the first time.
Chief Minister and founder of the All India NR Congress N Rangasamy is seeking to be re-elected from the Indira Nagar segment, while Opposition leader and former chief minister V Vaithilingam of the Congress party is contesting from the Kamaraj Nagar segment. While the AINRC, Bharatiya Janata Party and Pattali Makkal Katchi are contesting independently, the Congress and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam formed an alliance for the polls, PTI reported.
