BJP names Mansukh Mandaviya as election in-charge for 2026 Puducherry polls

In a sign that it is taking the South Indian frontier areas very seriously, BJP on Saturday began early preparations for the 2026 Puducherry election by appointing an election in-charge. Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, credited with turning around the fortunes of BJP in the 2023 Chhattisgarh election, has been appointed as the election in-charge for Puducherry, while Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal has been appointed as co in-charge.

BJP president JP Nadda formalised the appointments today, days after BJP and AIADMK announced a pre-poll pact for the 2026 Tamil Nadu election. In the 2021 Puducherry polls, the DMK-Congress alliance swept the 30-seat assembly. BJP general secretary Arun Singh announced the appointments today.