New Delhi: Out of 294 candidates (23%) in the upcoming Puducherry Assembly elections, 66 candidates (23%) have announced criminal cases, with 38 (13%) facing serious charges, according to Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).
Criminals facing criminal cases in Puducherry
This analysis is based on the candidates’ affidavits submitted to the committee election commission of india (ECI), mandatory disclosures required to contest elections.In the 2021 Puducherry Assembly elections, 323 candidates are contesting and 54 (17%) of them have announced criminal cases.
Partisan split Candidates with criminal cases
The newly formed Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), led by actor-politician Vijay, has fielded 28 candidates, 10 of whom – the highest number for a party – face criminal charges. Of those, five have filed serious charges and five have other criminal cases.Among other major political parties, three out of 21 nominees of the Congress, four out of 16 from the ruling All India National Congress (AINRC), six out of 12 DMK and five out of 10 BJP have declared criminal cases in their affidavits. The Congress party initially announced all 30 candidates after failing to reach an agreement with its ally DMK. The two parties finalized a seat-sharing agreement on the last day of nomination filing, with Congress competing for 16 seats and Democrats competing for 14 seats.Meanwhile, there are 117 independents, 19 of whom are facing criminal cases, 11 of whom have been charged with serious crimes.The 294 candidates include 34 from national parties, 63 from state parties, 80 from registered unrecognized political parties and independents.
“Red Alert” constituency
According to the ADR report, Puducherry has 11 “red alert” assembly constituencies in which at least three candidates are facing criminal cases. Of these, eight are in Puducherry district and three in Karaikal district.
- Villianur: 5 candidates (AINRC, TVK, PMK, 2 independents)
- Winners: 5 (BJP, DMK, AJPK, 2 independents)
- Karaikal South: 5 (BJP, DMK, DMMK, TVK, Independent)
- Lawspet: 4 (TVK, CPIM, 2 independents)
- Manaveli: 4 (BJP, Cong, AJPK, Independent)
- Neravy-TR Pattinam: 3 (DMMK, TVK, Independent)
- Muthialpet: 3 (AINRC, PMK, independent)
- Ozhukarai: 3 (VCK, 2 independents)
- Karapet: 3 (BJP, Cong, DMK)
- Thirunallar: 3 (BJP, TVK, Independent)
- Ariankuppam: 3 (AINRC, TVK, independent)
Puducherry assembly polls 2026
More than 940,000 voters will decide the fate of the candidates when they go to the polls on April 9. Counting of votes will take place on May 4 in the Union Territories, as well as in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.
Puducherry assembly polls 2026
How political parties fared in Puducherry Assembly polls 2021
The Puducherry Legislative Assembly has 33 seats, 30 of which are elected. The remaining three members are nominated by the central government.
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