Voting commenced at 7 am on Thursday, April 9, across the Union Territory of Puducherry, with an enthusiastic turnout seen early in the day as voters queued up outside polling stations in Puducherry town as well as its enclaves of Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam.
A saree-clad robot named Nila welcomed voters at the VOC Government School polling station, drawing attention.
Tight security arrangements were put in place as around 9.50 lakh voters headed to decide the electoral fortunes of the ruling NDA and the opposition INDIA bloc. Women voters, numbering about 5.03 lakh, outnumber male voters at 4.46 lakh, according to officials.
The electorate is spread across 30 Assembly segments—23 in Puducherry, five in Karaikal, and one each in Mahe and Yanam.
Polling is being conducted across 1,099 stations, of which 209 have been identified as vulnerable.
The contest is primarily between the NDA, led by the All India NR Congress (AINRC), and the INDIA bloc comprising the Indian National Congress, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK).
The entry of actor-politician Vijay’s party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), has heightened expectations, while actor-director Seeman’s Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) is also looking to expand its footprint.
A total of 294 candidates are in the fray.
Data from the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) shows that 23% of candidates have declared criminal cases against them, while 41% are crorepatis.
Among major parties, three out of 21 candidates from the Congress, four out of 16 from the All India NR Congress (AINR), six out of 12 from the DMK, and five out of 10 candidates from the BJP have declared criminal cases in their affidavits.
The NGO had analysed the affidavits of 291 out of the 294 candidates contesting the 30 seats in the elections.
