NEW DELHI: The Election Commission of India (EC) on March 10 announced the full schedule of phase-wise and constituency-wise voting for Puducherry in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls that begin on April 11. In the election, polling for the general elections will be held in seven phases starting April 11 and will conclude on May 19. Counting of votes will happen on May 23.

Constituency: Puducherry

Election date: April 18

Phase: 2

In the state in 2014, the union territory of Puducherry went to polls on 24 April 2014 to elect an MP for its lone Lok Sabha seat. The polling percentage witnessed on the day of voting in Puducherry was 82%. In the election season, total of 30 candidates were in the fray. R. Radhakrishnan of the All India N.R. Congress emerged as the winner in the state.

Narayanasamy of the INC was elected in 2009 in Puducherry. In the election, he had got 300,391 votes. In 2009 Lok Sabha elections, the union territory had recorded a voter turnout of 79.85%.

In 2004, M. Ramadass of the of the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) won in Puducherry with 241,653 votes.

This year, Lok Sabha elections will begin on April 11 and polling would be held over seven phases through May 19, followed by counting of all votes on May 23. Assembly polls in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal, Odisha and Sikkim will also be held simultaneously, the Election Commission (EC) said. However, elections for the Jammu and Kashmir assembly, which was dissolved after the ruling coalition between the BJP and the PDP fell apart, will not be held along with the Lok Sabha polls.

‘Voter verifiable paper audit trail' (VVPAT) will be used in all polling stations this time.  The first phase will be held on April 11, second on April 18, third on April 23 and fourth on April 29, fifth on May 6, sixth on May 12 and seventh phase on May 19.