Puducherry Assembly election 2026: BJP announces candidates for nine seats in Union Territory

The BJP has released the names of candidates for nine of the ten constituencies it is contesting in alliance with the AINRC in the April 9 Assembly elections.

The list was announced by the BJP central office in Delhi following a high-level meeting presided by party national president Nitin Nabin that was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, and all members of the Central Election Committee, according to a press note from Arun Singh, BJP national general secretary.

While sitting MLAs Home Minister A. Namassivayam, Speaker R. Selvam and PML Kalyanasundaram will seek re-election from Mannadipet, Manavely and Kalapet constituencies respectively, the BJP has fielded party president V.P. Ramalingam in Raj Bhavan that is currently held by ally AINRC’s Public Works Minister K. Lakshminarayanan.

A. Johnkumar, who was sworn in as a Minister in the NDA government in July, 2025 but not allocated a portfolio, has been shifted from the holding seat of Kamaraj Nagar to Mudaliarpet.

The conspicuous omission in the list is former Civil Supplies Minister A.K. Sai J. Saravanan Kumar who won the 2021 elections from Oussudu (SC). The reserved seat has been allotted to E. Theepainthan.

T.K.S.M. Meenatchisundaram is the BJP candidate in T.R. Neravy Pattinam and G.N.S. Rajasekaran the pick for Thirunallar, both constituencies falling in the Karaikal region.

A Dineshan is the BJP candidate in Mahe, which is currently held by the Congress.

As per the seat-sharing deal finalised with the AINRC led by Chief Minister N. Rangasamy, the BJP is contesting 10 seats and the AINRC 16 with the other allies, the AIADMK and the Latchiya Jananayaga Katchi (LJK) allotted two seats each.

The BJP is negotiating with the AINRC and allies in the NDA on finalising the sole remaining seat.

Meanwhile, supporters of Oussudu MLA and former Minister Saravanan Kumar created a ruckus at the BJP office to protest his omission from the list of candidates.