People waiting IN queues to cast their votes at Immaculate Heart of Mary Girls Higher Secondary School in Puducherry on April 9, 2026
| Photo Credit: R. Ragu
1. Tamil Nadu Assembly election: Over 4,000 candidates in frayAs the deadline for the withdrawal of nominations by candidates ended today, the battle lines for the April 23 Assembly election in the State are now clearly drawn.More than 4,900 candidates in the fray and Karur has the highest number of contestants in a single constituency in Tamil Nadu, with 89 candidates in the electoral race.2. Puducherry Assembly election: In a historic first, voter turnout in the UT crosses 89%For the first time in the 63-year-old history of Puducherry, the voter turnout reached 89.87% (as of 8.55 p.m.) in the Union Territory that has a total of 9.5 lakh electors for the Assembly election this year. The polling for the 2026 Assembly election was held in 30 constituencies spread over Puducherry (23), Karaikal (five), Mahe (one) and Yanam (one), began at 7 a.m. and concluded peacefully at 6 p.m. today (April 9). Results will be declared on May 4.So far, the Union Territory’s highest voter turnout percentage stood at 86% in 2006. During the last Assembly election in 2021, 82.2% votes were polled. Notably, Puducherry became a part of the Union of India after the Union Territories Act came into force in 1963.3. Congress releases manifesto for T.N.Congress leader and Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar released the Congress party’s manifesto for the April 23 Assembly election in Tamil Nadu, at Sathyamurthy Bhavan in Chennai.The manifesto has 10 broad categories, including inclusive growth, education and youth development, healthcare, agriculture and rural prosperity, women, minorities and development of SCs/STs, urban development, and environment.Later speaking to journalists, he came down heavily on Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president and actor Vijay, referring to him as an “immature politician.” Mr. Shivakumar’s comments came against the backdrop of Mr. Vijay’s claim at a public meeting in Tirunelveli yesterday, where he said a section of the Congress party had been “purchased” by the DMK, while the “real Congress” was with the TVK.4. 10 fishermen arrested by Sri Lankan Navy; fisherfolk threaten to boycott pollsTen fishermen from Pamban and Thangachimadam in the coastal district of Ramanathapuram were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy personnel on charges of poaching last night.As the news spread in the habitations today, the fisherfolk threatened to boycott the April 23 Assembly election. Published - April 09, 2026 08:35 pm IST
