Representational image of vehicle check in Puducherry when Model Code of Conduct is in force. File
| Photo Credit: S.S. Kumar
With the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) kicking in across Puducherry that is scheduled to go to Assembly polls on April 9, 2026, the logistics are being put in place for the smooth conduct of the exercise.
P. Jawahar, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) told the media that the MCC would remain in force till the completion of the election process. The MCC will be applicable to all political parties, candidates, the government, and government officials/servants.
He urged political parties to abide by the MCC and extend their co-operation for conduct of free, fair, and peaceful election. Hoardings and banners displaying political advertisements are being removed as per Section 4 of The Pondicherry Open Places (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act, 2000 (POPPD Act, 2000). Action for violation of this provision will be initiated on the basis of complaint from the owners. The police are also bound to register cases.
Political parties are requested to extend their full co-operation for removal of advertisements and defacements in public places, the CEO said.
Following the rationalisation process, 1099 polling stations have been proposed in the Union Territory, subject to the approval of the Election Commission of India (EC). The Election Department has also relocated 18 polling stations and changed the nomenclature of 115 polling stations.
321 vulnerable areas have been tentatively identified by the police. These pockets will be constantly monitored by periodically reviewing the ground-level situation. The police have been directed to execute 37 pending NBWs and impound the pending 30 arms except those used for bank security. They have also been directed to invoke Section 126 & 129 of BNSS for binding down trouble-mongers.
Election officials have sought 45 companies of Central Armed Police Forces, and 10 companies have already deployed. The police department has been directed to hold Inter-State Co-ordination meeting with neighbouring states. As Puducherry is an expenditure-sensitive U.T. from an election point of view, a battery of flying squads, static surveillance teams, video surveillance teams, rolling static surveillance team has swung into action, the CEO said. An Expenditure Monitoring Cell, Video Viewing Team, Accounting Team will also function.
A resource base of 4,934 staff will be involved in election duties in addition to 5410 police personnel. Each polling station has a maximum of 1200 electors.
As per the final electoral rolls, the total number of electors is 9,48,977 (Male: 4,45,761; Female: 5,03,076 and Third Gender: 140) This includes 1665 NRI Voters (Male 1326 ; Female 339) and 327 Service voters (Male 305; Female 22). Totally 13802 PwD Voters (Men 7478; Women 6323 and TG 1).
The U.T. will have 30 All women Polling Stations and these will be managed by women government employees while 5 polling stations (three in Puducherry District and two in Karaikal District) will be exclusively managed by young government staff.
Besides, three polling stations (two in Puducherry District and one in Karaikal District) will be managed by Government employees under the category of Persons with Disabilities (PwD) to encourage PwD electors.
The Department will also establish two unique polling stations—VOC Government Boys Hr. Sec. School, Puducherry and Thanthai Periyar School in Karaikal.
Polling stations are provided with furniture, help desk, electricity and proper lighting, provision for ramp, proper signage, toilet, provision for drinking water ramps, shades, and approach roads. All polling stations will be mapped, with the disabled voters in their respective polling stations. Facilitation services such as wheelchairs and adjustable tables will be provided for orthopedically handicapped. For visually impaired, hearing impaired and speech impaired, trained volunteers will be stationed at select booths and braille ballot papers provided. PwD voters can seek assistance through Shaksham App developed by the EC.
The EC has allotted BEL-made M3 EVMs/VVPATs to U.T. of Puducherry. A total of 3349 BUs (304%), 1801 CUs (164%) and 2046 (186%) VVPATs are available in the UT. Sufficient quantity of EVMs & VVPATs are available and will be used in all polling stations.
The State/District Contact Centre at Puducherry and the District Contact Centre at Karaikal have been established with a 24/7 toll free number 1950.
Published – March 15, 2026 11:20 pm IST
