Puducherry, April 9 Puducherry recorded a voter turnout of 17.41% by 9 am on Thursday as polling began in all 30 assembly constituencies.
Voting commenced at 7 am in the Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe, and Yanam regions, with as many as 9.50 lakh voters deciding the fate of 294 candidates.
With the NDA striving to retain power, the opposition bloc is aiming to wrest control from the AINRC-led front in the union territory, focusing its campaign on local autonomy and administrative friction.
Key figures, including Lt Governor Kailashnathan, Chief Minister N Rangasamy, Home Minister A Namassivayam, and Congress leader V Narayanasamy, were among the early voters to cast their votes.