Theme-based polling stations, humanoid robot ‘Nila’ attract voters

The Government Middle School at Keezhur in Mangalam Assembly constituency of Puducherry, one among the three designated “unique” polling stations in the Union Territory, had Tamil art forms, flex boards featuring the freedom history of erstwhile Pondicherry and eco-friendly materials decking up the ambience as voters walked in to exercise their franchise during the Puducherry Assembly elections on Thursday (April 9, 2026).

The school at Keezhur, a village on the Puducherry-Tamil Nadu border off Villianur, has historically been one of the prime polling stations. In October 1954, Keezhur produced the definite referendum in favour of the merger of French establishments with India.