Tough battle on cards for lone Lok Sabha seat in Puducherry

PUDUCHERRY: Major political parties, including AIADMK, DMK and the ruling AINRC headed by Chief Minister N Rangaswamy are expected to fight it out for the lone Lok Sabha seat in this union territory that goes to the polls on April 24, along with Tamil Nadu.

This is the first election for the ruling AINRC that came into power in 2011 assembly election.

Minister of state in PMO V Narayanaswamy, who made his Lok Sabha debut winning the seat as a undivided Congress candidate in 2009, is likely to face a multi-cornered contest, if fielded.

Rangaswamy has not disclosed his poll strategy on whether his party would go it alone or forge a tie up with any political outfit.

AIADMK led by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, who is targeting winning 39 seats in her state and the lone seat in Puducherry to realise her national political ambitions, has already named M V Omalingam as its candidate.

PMK, which is likely to strike a poll pact with BJP, has also named its nominee for the coming poll.

M Karunanidhi's DMK and BJP are yet to make known their plans for Puducherry.

Puducherry comprises 30 assembly segments and has a total electorate of 8.85 lakh.