With the scrutiny of nominations completed, political parties in Puducherry have switched to campaign mode. The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India NR Congress have officially announced their candidates for seats allotted under alliance arrangements.

 

The Bharatiya Janata Party and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam had declared their nominees earlier. The DMK list of 13 candidates includes party convenor and Leader of Opposition R. Siva from Villianur. Sitting MLAs R. Senthil Kumar, L. Sambath, V. Annibal Kennedy, AHM Nazeem and M. Nagathiyagarajan have been fielded from Bahour, Mudaliarpet, Uppalam, Karaikal South and Neravy-T.R. Pattinam constituencies, respectively. Although the DMK had allotted the Oulgaret seat to its alliance partner Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi in the INDIA bloc, VCK president Thol Thirumavalavan has announced that the party will contest independently from three constituencies – Oussudu, Nettapakkam and Oulgaret.

 

Among the candidates announced by the All India NR Congress, Chief Minister N. Rangasamy will contest from Thattanchavady and Mangalam constituencies. Deputy Speaker P. Rajavelu will contest from Nettapakkam, Government Whip V. Aroumougame from Indira Nagar, and Minister P. R. N. Thirumurugan from Karaikal North. Meanwhile, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), another ally of the INDIA bloc, has fielded candidates in four constituencies and is also supporting an independent candidate in Mahe. The final picture of contestants in each constituency will become clear tomorrow, the final day for the withdrawal of nominations.