Pondy set for first phase polls May 3

Pondicherry, May 2 (UNI) Pondicherry is all set for the first phase of Assembly elections tomorrow.

Mahe, Palloor and Yanam constituencies will come under the first phase of the two-phased polls in the union territory.

The second phase of polling is slated for May eight.

A total of 19 candidates are in the fray for the first phase. As many as 12,663 voters in Mahe, 14,363 in Palloor and 18,739 in Yanam will elect their representatives to the Territorial Assembly.

Polling will commence at 0700 hrs and end at 1700 hrs. All arrangements for the first phase of polling have been completed.

Security has been tightened in both Mahe and Yanam regions of the union territory.

Two companies of Central para-military forces have been deployed on election duty apart from personnel from the Indian Reserve Batalion here and the local police.

For the first time, Yanam has been declared as 'sensitive' and extra security being provided.

Twenty-one constituencies in Pondicherry region and six in Karaikal go to polls in the second phase on May eight.

UNI PAB RR HT1142