The election to the 33-member Assembly of the union territory of Puducherry will be held in a single phase on April 6. The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced on Friday. The votes will be counted on May 2.

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The Assembly was dissolved and President’s Rule imposed in the UT after former Chief Minister V Narayanasamy wasn’t able to prove his majority, thus bringing down the Congress-led government with just a month to go for the polls.

While announcing the polling dates, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sunil Arora said the expenditure limit of the UT of Puducherry would be 22 lakhs per constituency.

In the previous election, Congress won 15 out of the 30 seats, which was one short of the requisite majority of 16. Since it contested the polls with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), which won two seats, it went on to form the government. 

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The All India NR Congress won eight seats, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) four and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) couldn’t win a single seat, however, it had three nominated MLAs. 

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Although the EC announced the polling date on Friday, campaigning has already begun, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and BJP chief JP Nadda having visited the UT. While Nadda visited the state in late January, Gandhi went to the UT on February 17.