Voters in Puducherry are all set to exercise their franchise on Tuesday, adhering to COVID-19 safety protocol, to elect new governments.
In the Union Territory where the Narayanasamy government was pulled down in February, voters would choose essentially between the fronts led by the Congress and the All India NR Congress.
Here are the latest updates:
As of 9 a.m., Puducherry had recorded 0.32% polling.
Former Chief Minister and AINRC chief Rangasamy cast his vote at the Govt. Middle School Thilaspet on April 6, 2021. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Former Chief Minister of Puducherry and founder-leader of All India N R Congress N. Rangasamy cast his vote at the Government Middle School, Thilaspet in Thattanchavady constituency. Mr. Rangasamy is contesting from Thattanchavady and Yanam constituencies.
- Rajesh B. Nair
Former Chief Minister of Puducherry V. Narayanasamy casting his vote at Government Girls French High School, Mission Street on April 6, 2021. | Photo Credit: SINGARAVELOU T.
Inmates of Hospice Convent waiting to cast their votes at Govt Girls French High School on April 6, 2021. | Photo Credit: SINGARAVELOU T.
Residents of the Cluny Old Age Home have defied age and infirmity to exercise their franchise in every election.
- Dinesh Varma
A queue outside the SS wedding hall in Raj Bhavan constituency in Puducherry on April 6, 2021. | Photo Credit: Dinesh Varma
Slow start to polling in Puducherry.
An estimated 10.04 lakh voters are registered to exercise their franchise in the elections across 30 constituencies to choose the 15th Puducherry Assembly.
- Dinesh Varma
BJP president in Puducherry and party candidate V. Saminathan cast his vote at the Primary Government School Petichepet in Lawspet on April 6, 2021. | Photo Credit: SINGARAVELOU T.
Among the candidates to cast vote early was BJP president and party nominee from Lawspet V. Saminathan.
- Rajesh B. Nair
People seen lined up in front of a polling booth in Lawspet constituency before the commencement of voting at 7 a.m. on April 6, 2021 in Puducherry. | Photo Credit: SINGARAVELOU T.
Long queues were seen outside polling booths in the town before voting commenced with voters and election officials adhering to COVID-19 protocols.
- Rajesh B. Nair
District Election Officer Purva Garg inspects the EVM distribution centre at Tagore Arts College in Puducherry on April 5, 2021. | Photo Credit: S.S. Kumar
Representing both ends of the age spectrum, 31,864 first-time voters in the age group of 18-19 years are expected to join an estimated 17,000 voters above 80 years of age as polling gets under way in 1,558 polling stations — 952 main and 606 auxiliary stations.
Polling will take place from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Puducherry District Collector clarifies prohibitory order will not affect normal life
Acting on the directions of the Madras High Court, District Collector Purva Garg on April 5 clarified that the prohibitory orders issued under Section 144 of the CrPC would not affect normal public life in Puducherry, which goes to the polls on April 6.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy had expressed displeasure over the prohibitory orders after concluding a special sitting to hear a public interest litigation petition filed by R. Rajangam, secretary, CPI(M), Puducherry on April 4.