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BJP Announces Candidates for Puducherry and Kerala Assembly Elections
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has released candidate lists for the upcoming Assembly elections in Puducherry and Kerala. Elections are scheduled for April, with vote counting to occur in May.
The BJP is contesting 14 seats in Puducherry as part of an alliance with the All India N.R. Congress (AINRC) and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). The AINRC will contest 16 seats, having agreed to include the Lakshia Jananayaga Katchi (LJK) in their front after discussions with the BJP. In the 2021 Assembly elections, the AINRC won 10 of 16 contested seats, while the BJP secured six of nine contested seats. The Election Commission has scheduled single-phase polling for Puducherry's 30 seats on April 9, with results expected on May 4. The BJP has also released a third list of 11 candidates for the Kerala Assembly polls, where the Election Commission has been reviewing preparedness.
Key Facts
- The BJP released a list of nine candidates for the Puducherry Assembly polls.
- Embalam R Selvam will contest from Manavely, T K S M Meenatchisundaram from Neravy T R Pattinam, and A Dineshan from Mahe.
- E Theeppainthan will seek election from Oussudu, a Scheduled Caste reserved seat.
- The AINRC will contest 16 seats, and the BJP will contest 14 in Puducherry.
- The BJP allocated two seats each to the AIADMK and the Lakshia Jananayaga Katchi (LJK).
- The BJP released its third list of 11 candidates for the Kerala Assembly polls.
- Karamana Jayan will contest from Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala.
- Assembly elections are scheduled for April, with vote counting on May 4.
Primary Source
Research Sources
- ThePrint — BJP releases list of nine candidates for Puducherry Assembly polls
- The Hindu — Kerala Assembly elections: BJP releases third list of 11 candidates
- The Times of India — Assembly Elections 2026 Live Updates: BJP releases 3rd list for Kerala assembly polls - The Times of India