PUDUCHERRY: The Union territory of Puducherry will head to the assembly polls on Thursday (April 9). Chief electoral officer P Jawahar, while briefing reporters on Wednesday, said the election machinery in the territory expects more than 90% polling in 2026. The territory recorded 82.2% polling in the 2021 assembly polls. After special intensive revision (SIR), about 8% voters were removed from the electoral list in 2026, he said.Polling will begin at 7am. There are 294 candidates in the fray in 30 constituencies in the territory. The constituencies include 23 in Puducherry, five in Karaikal and one each in Mahe and Yanam. There are 9.5 lakh voters – 5.03 lakh women, 4.46 lakh men and 140 third gender- in the territory. There are 1,099 polling booths, including 30 all-women polling booths, 15 youth-managed polling booths, two booths managed by people with disabilities (PwD) and two unique polling booths established in heritage buildings in the territory.The All India NR Congress (AINRC)-led NDA coalition government is seeking a second consecutive term. The alliance includes the BJP, AIADMK and LJK. AINRC contests in 16 seats, BJP 10 and AIADMK and LJK two each. The Congress-led INDIA bloc is leaving no stone unturned to wrest power back from the NDA. Congress contests in 16 seats, DMK 13 and VCK one.Jawahar said the election department had thus far seized Rs 8.4 crore worth of gold valuables, liquor, and freebies besides cash intended to lure voters. The department suspended nine govt servants for participating in political activities and initiated disciplinary action against another nine govt servants for their involvement in political activities. A delegation of nine officials from six countries — Kyrgyzstan, Ivory Coast, Moldova, Mongolia, Guyana and Bhutan — have arrived in Puducherry to observe the polling process at select stations.He said the election machinery had launched the Meipporul 2.0 application to combat “fake news” and misinformation. He urged citizens to follow the mantra: “Think, verify and act.” Already, 113 misleading social media posts have been removed by the cybersecurity wing. The department had resolved 76 out of 84 complaints within the 100-minute deadline via the C-Vigil app, he said.
