Puducherry Polls 2026: BJP's state chief VP Ramalingam contests from Raj Bhavan | 5 facts

VP Ramalingam, BJP leader and State President, is contesting from Raj Bhavan seat for the 2026 assembly elections.

Bharatiya Janata Party's VP Ramalingam is fighting the Puducherry assembly polls from the Raj Bhavan seat, voting for which was held on April 9. He is a crucial figure in Puducherry politics due to his dual role as the BJP's unit president and a key legislative strategist for the NDA in the Union Territory.

Born into a politically active family, VP Ramalingam transitioned to the BJP after a stint with the Indian National Congress. (facebook)

Ramalingam, who rose to prominence within the saffron party after a long association with regional politics, has filed his candidacy from this seat to lead the BJP's charge in the 2026 assembly elections. His primary support is from the urban business community and traditional BJP voters in the Heritage Town area, who view him as a direct link to the central government’s developmental agenda.

5 Key Facts About V. P. Ramalingam

• For the 2026 elections, Ramalingam is spearheading the BJP's campaign as the state president, a role he assumed in June 2025. He is contesting one of the 10 seats allotted to the BJP within the NDA alliance, making his performance a personal referendum on his leadership.
• While he served as a nominated MLA since 2021, his move to contest the Raj Bhavan constituency in 2026 marks his first major attempt to win a direct popular mandate. This seat was previously contested by the BJP’s ally, the AINRC, but was swapped this cycle to accommodate the party president.
• Voters support him because he is seen as a "troubleshooter" who can navigate both local issues and central bureaucracy. As the brother of former Pusucherry legislative assembly speaker VP Sivakolundhu, he carries a legacy of influential political networking while maintaining a reputation for focusing on urban infrastructure and tourism development.
• Born into a politically active family, Ramalingam transitioned to the BJP after a stint with the Indian National Congress. His appointment as a nominated member in 2021 was a strategic move by the Centre to strengthen the party's legislative presence, eventually leading to his rise as the face of the Puducherry BJP.
• For the April 9, 2026 polls, his campaign was defined by a "New Puducherry" vision. He cast his vote in Heritage Town while predicting a clean sweep for the NDA, banking on high-profile support from union ministers like Mansukh Mandaviya who campaigned alongside him to highlight "double-engine" growth.