-led alliance for the 30-member Puducherry Assembly.){kind=link}
AINRC-led alliance allocates seats ahead of polls, but BJP’s candidate list sparks protests among sidelined leaders
March 22, 2026: The Bharatiya Janata Party has secured 10 seats in the All India N.R. Congress (AINRC)-led alliance for the 30-member Puducherry Assembly. The seat-sharing arrangement was finalised after discussions with Union minister Mansukh Mandaviya. As per the agreement, AINRC will contest 16 seats, while the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and Lakshia Jananayaga Katchi (LJK) have been allotted two seats each.
In its first list released on Saturday, the BJP announced candidates for nine of its 10 seats. Territorial Home Minister A Namassivayam will seek re-election from Mannadipet, while Assembly Speaker Embalam R Selvam will contest from Manavely. Meanwhile, A John Kumar has been shifted to Mudaliarpet from Kamaraj Nagar. However, former minister Sai J Saravanan Kumar was denied a ticket, with nominated legislator E Theepainthan fielded from Oussudu instead.
The candidate selection has triggered protests within the party. Supporters of Saravanan Kumar staged demonstrations, even burning party identity cards outside the BJP office. Similarly, former legislator A Baskar, who recently joined the BJP after leaving AIADMK, was also denied a ticket, leading to further discontent among his supporters. The developments highlight growing internal tensions within the party ahead of the elections.