Polling for the 30-member Puducherry Assembly ended on Thursday with a remarkable voter turnout of 86.92%, surpassing the previous record set in 2006. Officials anticipate this figure to rise further as voters in queues at closing time were allowed to cast their votes. Across all constituencies, voting commenced at 7 a.m. and proceeded smoothly, with active participation observed in Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe, and Yanam.
The total eligible voters numbered 9.5 lakh, distributed across 23 constituencies in Puducherry, five in Karaikal, and one each in Mahe and Yanam. Women voters, at 5.03 lakh, outnumbered male voters, who totaled 4.46 lakh. Security measures were heightened with 1,099 polling stations, including 209 identified as vulnerable.
The election featured a multi-cornered contest, primarily between the ruling NDA led by AINRC and the opposition INDIA bloc comprising Congress, DMK, and VCK. The political landscape saw the emergence of Vijay’s TVK and Seeman’s NTK, adding intrigue to the electoral dynamics. Polling concluded at 6 p.m. with a token system ensuring all queued voters could cast their ballots.
The significant voter turnout, exceeding the 2021 election’s percentage, indicates a surge in political awareness and mobilization. The closely contested Puducherry Assembly election now sets the stage for a pivotal mandate that will shape the Union Territory’s political trajectory.
