Puducherry, April 9 (NationPress) The voting process for the Puducherry Assembly elections commenced on Thursday, with both the BJP and the Congress expressing substantial confidence about securing the next government in the Union Territory.

The polling kicked off smoothly across Puducherry early in the morning, as voters arrived consistently at polling stations to cast their votes for the 30-member Assembly. Currently, the Union Territory has a 33-member Assembly, with 30 members being elected by the public.

Puducherry is presently governed by a coalition between the All India N.R. Congress and the BJP. As the electoral activities began, BJP state President V.P. Ramalingame expressed optimism regarding the prospects of the NDA.

In a statement to IANS, Ramalingame remarked, "Today is an exceptional day. The citizens are showing considerable enthusiasm in voting for our nation. Everything is proceeding smoothly. The NDA is set to establish the government."

Ramalingame is contesting from the Raj Bhavan (General) Assembly constituency, where he faces competition from Congress candidate R Kumaran and DMK nominee Vignesh Kannan, creating a closely monitored contest.

Conversely, the Congress party projected confidence in its chances, asserting that the electorate is yearning for a change in governance. The party criticized the current BJP-led administration for widespread corruption and governance failures.

Former Puducherry Chief Minister and Congress leader V. Narayanasamy, after casting his vote, shared with IANS, "I am exercising my democratic right by visiting the polling booth and waiting in line to vote. It is the responsibility of every Indian citizen to cast their vote. In Puducherry, the circumstances are quite favorable for the INDIA bloc."

He further condemned the current government, stating, "Under the present administration, there is rampant mismanagement. Corruption is pervasive, unemployment is on the rise, and crimes against women are increasing."

"Thus, the people of Puducherry are seeking a transparent government that prioritizes the welfare of its citizens, creates job opportunities, and enhances healthcare and education. Therefore, the INDIA bloc will form a government this time around."

Narayanasamy had previously, on March 24, opted not to contest the Assembly elections, citing concerns that discussions regarding his candidacy were causing discord within the alliance during seat-sharing negotiations with the DMK.

Polling began at 7 a.m. across 1,099 polling stations and will continue until 6 p.m. Officials have confirmed that all necessary arrangements are in place to ensure a peaceful and organized voting process.

With all major political entities in the mix, the election is anticipated to deliver a competitive contest as parties vie for control of the Union Territory.