Puducherry, April 9: Voters in the Union Territory of Puducherry are actively heading to polling stations to elect representatives for the 30-member assembly. Voting commenced at 7 AM on Thursday and will continue until 6 PM across 1,099 polling centers.
Former Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy cast his vote in the Puducherry assembly elections. After voting, he stated, “I exercised my democratic right while standing in line at the polling station. Voting is a duty of every citizen in India. The situation in Puducherry is very favorable for the India Alliance.”
This election is significant as the current coalition government in the Union Territory is led by the All India N.R. Congress, with Chief Minister N. Rangasamy receiving support from the Bharatiya Janata Party.
A tough competition for power is expected among all major political parties. Chief Electoral Officer P. Jawahar mentioned that extensive preparations have been made to ensure free and fair elections. Puducherry Collector A. Kuluthungan remarked, “People are coming out to vote with great enthusiasm. It is encouraging to see such a large number of voters arriving early in the morning. All mock polls at polling stations were successfully completed.”
To maintain law and order, a total of 4,836 polling personnel have been deployed, supported by 2,791 police officers and 30 companies of Central Armed Police Forces.
Security measures have been heightened, especially in sensitive areas. A total of 209 polling centers have been declared sensitive, with five categorized as extremely sensitive. Close monitoring is being conducted at these locations, with micro-observers and CAPF personnel stationed to ensure vigilance.
Approximately 2,000 student volunteers have been assigned to polling stations to assist senior citizens and persons with disabilities, ensuring inclusive participation in the democratic process.
Before voting, enforcement teams closely monitored compliance with the Model Code of Conduct (MCC). During the campaign period, officials seized suspicious amounts of money worth approximately 84 million rupees, including 67 million rupees in gold and other precious metals, 7.7 million rupees in cash, and 6.8 million rupees worth of liquor, indicating a robust monitoring mechanism.
Despite the campaign officially ending on Tuesday evening, monitoring teams continued their efforts to prevent any violations. Election officials reported that all necessary arrangements were made to enable voters to exercise their rights without any difficulties.
With over 82% voter turnout recorded in the 2021 assembly elections, officials are hopeful that participation may exceed previous elections, reflecting strong public engagement in the electoral process.
– O.P./P.M.
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