New Delhi, April 9: Voting for the 2026 Assembly elections is underway in Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry, with polling being held in a single phase across all three regions. A total of 126 seats in Assam, 140 in Kerala, and 30 in Puducherry are voting today in a high-stakes electoral contest.
A clash broke out in Puducherry’s Mannadipet constituency at Thirukanur village, where workers of the BJP and Congress allegedly came to blows near a polling station. The dispute reportedly began after Congress workers objected to the presence of BJP workers close to the booth, insisting that only voters should remain in the area.
As tensions escalated, the two groups engaged in a scuffle, prompting the police to intervene. Authorities resorted to a lathi charge to disperse the crowd and restore order. According to police sources, the incident did not affect the voting process, which continued peacefully afterward.
The Mannadipet seat has drawn significant attention, with Puducherry Home Minister A. Namassivayam contesting as the BJP candidate, while the Congress has fielded former Deputy Speaker TPR Selvam.
Meanwhile, voter turnout remained strong across all three regions. By 3 PM, Assam recorded the highest turnout at 75.91%, followed by Puducherry at 72.40%, while Kerala stood at 62.71%.
Earlier in the day, several prominent personalities cast their votes, including Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, singer Papon, and cricketer Riyan Parag in Guwahati.
