From the CM and former CM to the Puducherry BJP president and newcomers, these seats will see high-stakes battles

New Delhi: As Puducherry gears up for the upcoming assembly elections, several key constituencies in the Union Territory (UT) will witness high-profile battles involving the outgoing chief minister, former chief ministers, UT party chiefs and political successors.The Puducherry Legislative Assembly has 33 members and 30 elected seats. The remaining three MLAs are nominated by the Centre.

Voting will be held in phases on April 9. Counting of votes is scheduled to take place on May 4, with Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal also counting at the same time.

Key Battle of Pondicherry

Tatanchavardi: Focus on outgoing chief minister N Rangasamycurrent MP. The AINRC founder and chairman will face off against former chief minister and current Lok Sabha member V Vaithilingam, making this election the most high-profile contest.

Raj Bhawan: NDA candidate and Puducherry BJP president VP Ramalingam will take on DMK’s Vignesh Kannan, son of former Puducherry minister P Kannan. The DMK is contesting in alliance with the Congress.

Legal Speight: AINRC leader VP Sivakolundhu will be challenged by V Saminathan, the former Puducherry BJP president of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) representing actor-politician Vijay. Sivakorundu previously held the position of Speaker of Parliament as a Member of Parliament.Mahe and Yanhem: Among the 30 parliamentary constituencies, Mahe and Yannhem are uniquely located. Mahe is completely surrounded by the state of Kerala, while Yanam is surrounded by the state of Andhra Pradesh. In Mahe, the BJP’s A Dineshan faces the Congress’s Ramesh Parambath. Yanam will see AINRC’s Malladi Krishna Rao contesting against Congress’ Gollapalli Srinivas Ashok.

alliance

The ruling National Democratic Alliance in Puducherry consists of AINRC, BJP, AIADMK and the newly formed Latchiya Jananayaga Katchi (led by businessman Jose Charles Martin). CM Rangasamy’s party will contest 16 seats while the BJP will contest 14 constituencies. The saffron party allotted two seats each to the AIADMK and Latchiya Jananayaga Katchi (LJK) from its share.

Meanwhile, the Congress will select candidates in 16 constituencies and the remaining seats will be allotted to the DMK.