BJP Finalizes Candidate Roster for Puducherry Assembly Elections with M Arulmurugan Nomination
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has completed its candidate selection for the upcoming Puducherry assembly elections by announcing M Arulmurugan as its nominee for the Karaikal South constituency. This declaration was made on Sunday, following the party's release of its initial list of nine candidates just a day earlier.
Complete Candidate Lineup and Alliance Dynamics
With this announcement, the BJP has now revealed all candidates it will field in the Puducherry assembly polls. The party had previously announced several candidates for constituencies it will contest as part of its alliance. The only remaining seat was finalized after alliance partner AIADMK, which was allotted two seats, insisted on securing one additional seat.
Here is the complete list of BJP candidates for the Puducherry assembly elections:
- M Arulmurugan from Karaikal South
- A Namassivayam from Mannadipet
- E Theeppainthan from Oussoudu (SC)
- PML Kalyanasundaram from Kalapet
- VP Ramalingame from Raj Bhavan
- A Johnkumar from Mudaliarpet
- Embalam R Selvam from Manavely
- GNS Rajasekaran from Thirunallar
- A Dineshan from Mahe
Seat Sharing Agreement and Alliance Structure
The BJP is contesting the election in alliance with the AINRC (All India N.R. Congress). According to the agreed formula, AINRC will contest 16 seats, while the BJP and its allies will fight the remaining 14 seats. The BJP itself will contest 10 constituencies directly.
Two seats each have been allocated to the AIADMK and Jose Charles Martin's Latchiya Jananayaga Katchi (LJK), following extensive discussions regarding the latter's inclusion in the alliance framework.
Election Commission Preparations and Voter Statistics
The Election Commission has scheduled polling for all 30 seats in Puducherry in a single phase on April 9, with vote counting set for May 4. Preparations are well underway, with the Commission having completed the first randomization of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs).
Detailed records will be shared with candidates after the final list of contestants is prepared to ensure complete transparency throughout the electoral process.
Puducherry's voter demographics reveal:
- Approximately 9.44 lakh eligible voters total
- About 4.43 lakh male voters
- Approximately 5 lakh female voters
- 139 third-gender electors
- 23,033 first-time voters aged between 18 and 19
- Over 6,000 voters aged 85 and above
- 12,204 persons with disabilities registered to vote
Polling Infrastructure and Logistics
Voting will be conducted across 1,099 polling stations throughout Puducherry, including 610 in urban areas and 489 in rural regions. Each polling booth will serve an average of 859 voters, ensuring manageable voter turnout at each location.
With candidates now officially announced and election logistics firmly in place, political focus has shifted entirely to the upcoming contest as all parties intensify their preparations for polling next month.
