VP Ramalingam, BJP leader and state president, is contesting from Raj Bhavan seat in the 2026 Assembly elections.
BJP Vice President Ramalingam is contesting the Puducherry Assembly elections from Raj Bhavan The seat was voted on on April 9. He is a crucial figure in Puducherry politics due to his dual role as BJP unit chief and chief legislative strategist for the NDA in the union territory.
Ramalingam, who rose to prominence within the saffron party after his long association with regional politics, has filed his nomination from this seat to lead the BJP in the 2026 Lok Sabha elections. His primary support comes from The urban business community and traditional voters of the BJP In the Heritage Town area, they see it as a direct link to the central government’s development agenda.
5 essential facts about VP Ramalingam
- For the 2026 elections, Ramalingam is leading the BJP’s campaign as the partyPresident TateA role he took on in June 2025. He is competing for no one 10 seats assigned to The BJP is in the NDA alliance, making its performance a personal referendum on its leadership.
- While he was holding officeThe ill-fated MLA Since 2021, his move has moved to competing Raj Bhavan The 2026 constituency represents his first major attempt to win a direct popular mandate. This seat was previously contested by the BJP’s ally, AINRC, but was shuffled this session to accommodate the party president.
- Voters support him because he is seen as a “Troubleshooter” Who can handle local issues and central bureaucracy. As the brother of former Puucherry Legislative Council 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 switched to the BJP after a stint with the BJP Indian National Congress. His appointment as a nominated member in 2021 was a strategic move by the Center to strengthen the party’s legislative presence, which ultimately led to his rise as the face of the Puducherry BJP.
- to April 9, 2026 PollsHis campaign was defined by the vision of a “new Puducherry”. He cast his vote in the Heritage City while anticipating a clean sweep for the NDA, counting on high-profile support from union ministers like Mansukh Mandaviya who campaigned alongside him to highlight “dual-engine” growth.
Khushboo Sahu is a journalist in the Internet Desk, helping with research, writing, editing and curation of digital content, while gaining experience in search engine optimization and content publishing workflow. She is currently pursuing PGDM in English Journalism from Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), New Delhi. Khushboo earned her BA in German from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), where she developed a strong foundation in language, culture and global perspectives. She received a scholarship to attend a language program at Vytautas Magnus University in Lithuania, which gave her international exposure and the opportunity to engage with diverse cultural and academic environments across Europe. Her areas of interest include politics, international relations, public policy, and human interest stories. She is particularly interested in exploring how policies impact communities on the ground. She previously worked as a content writer at Karamrath and was associated with the Gandhi Fellowship, where she was involved in grassroots development initiatives. She is also trained in public policy, where she has contributed to the development of research and programs in the education sector.Read more
