Puducherry, March 23 A total of 445 candidates have filed nominations for the 30 assembly constituencies in the Union Territory of Puducherry.
The filing of nominations began on March 16 and concluded today.
As many as 445 candidates have filed 515 nominations. The scrutiny of nominations is scheduled for Tuesday, while the final day for withdrawing nominations is March 26.
The elections will be held on April 9.
The AINRC, which is leading the NDA, has fielded 16 candidates, while its ally, the BJP, is contesting 10 seats.
The AIADMK and Latchia Jananayaga Katchi (LJK), the other constituents of the NDA, have fielded two candidates each.
Chief Minister and AINRC founder N Rangasamy is contesting from two segments-Thattanchavady and Mangalam.
Senior AIADMK leader A Anbalagan has filed the papers in Uppalam constituency. He is seeking to wrest the seat back from the DMK.
The Congress and DMK have finalized their seat-sharing agreement as the deadline (3 pm) to file nominations expired.
The Congress has been allotted 16 seats, while DMK has been earmarked 14 seats.
The DMK has the responsibility to accommodate the VCK and the CPI from its own quota.
All candidates of these parties have filed nominations.
Senior Congress leader and the current Lok Sabha MP from Puducherry, V Vaithilingam has entered the fray for the Thattanchavady constituency.
The Puducherry State BJP president V P Ramalingam is contesting from the Raj Bhavan seat.
Puducherry Home Minister A Namassivayam is seeking to retain the Mannadipet constituency.
The actor Vijay-led Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam has opted to go solo in the polls. The party's candidates filed nominations on Monday, signalling a multi-cornered contest in many constituencies.