Puducherry Elections 2026: BJP Announces 9 Candidates, Oussudu MLA Saravanan Kumar Dropped

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has unveiled its first list of candidates for the upcoming Puducherry Assembly elections scheduled for April 9, 2026, naming nominees for nine of the ten constituencies it will contest as part of its alliance with the All India N.R. Congress (AINRC). The announcement comes as the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) finalises its electoral strategy in the Union Territory, with one seat still under discussion among allies.

BJP Finalises First List After High-Level Central Meeting

The list of candidates was issued by the BJP's central office in Delhi after a high-level meeting of the party's Central Election Committee. According to a press note released by Arun Singh, BJP national general secretary, the meeting was presided over by party national president Nitin Nabin.

The meeting also saw the participation of several top BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, and all members of the Central Election Committee.

The BJP is contesting 10 seats in the Puducherry Assembly elections as part of its alliance with the ruling AINRC, though it has so far declared candidates for only nine constituencies.

Sitting MLAs Retained, Ramalingam Moved To Raj Bhavan

Among the prominent names in the list, the BJP has retained three sitting legislators. Home Minister A. Namassivayam has been renominated from Mannadipet, Speaker R. Selvam will once again contest from Manavely, and PML Kalyanasundaram has been fielded from Kalapet.

In a notable move, the party has nominated its Puducherry unit president V.P. Ramalingam from Raj Bhavan constituency. The seat is currently represented by BJP ally AINRC's Public Works Minister K. Lakshminarayanan.

Another key reshuffle involves A. Johnkumar, who was sworn in as a Minister in the NDA government in July 2025 but was not assigned any portfolio. He has been shifted from Kamaraj Nagar, which he currently holds, to Mudaliarpet for the 2026 election.

Oussudu Seat Change Sparks Political Tension

One of the most talked-about aspects of the BJP's list is the exclusion of former Civil Supplies Minister A.K. Sai J. Saravanan Kumar, who had won the Oussudu (SC) seat in the 2021 Assembly elections.

In his place, the BJP has nominated E. Theepainthan from the reserved constituency, a decision that appears to have triggered strong reactions within the party's local support base.

Soon after the list was released, supporters of the Oussudu MLA and former Minister Saravanan Kumar reportedly created a ruckus at the BJP office, protesting his omission from the party's candidate list.

Karaikal And Mahe Seats Also See Fresh Faces

In the Karaikal region, the BJP has fielded T.K.S.M. Meenatchisundaram from T.R. Neravy Pattinam and G.N.S. Rajasekaran from Thirunallar.

For Mahe, a constituency currently held by the Congress, the BJP has chosen A Dineshan as its candidate.

These selections indicate the party's attempt to strengthen its presence beyond its traditional pockets as it seeks to improve its performance in the Union Territory.

NDA Seat-Sharing Formula Leaves One BJP Seat Pending

Under the seat-sharing arrangement worked out between the BJP and the AINRC, led by Chief Minister N. Rangasamy, the BJP is contesting 10 seats, while the AINRC will fight from 16 constituencies.

The other NDA allies, AIADMK and Latchiya Jananayaga Katchi (LJK), have been allotted two seats each.

While the BJP has now announced candidates for nine constituencies, discussions are still underway with the AINRC and other NDA partners to finalise the one remaining seat that is yet to be settled.

With candidate announcements underway and tensions already visible over certain exclusions, the Puducherry Assembly election campaign is expected to gather pace in the coming days.