Over 5,259 from India to vote in French polls

PUDUCHERRY: Around 5,259 French citizens, residing in the UT, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, are expected to exercise their franchise in the first round of the French Presidential elections, on Sunday.These French citizens, who are registered with their country’s consulate in the UT, would choose among the 10 candidates in the fray for the top job, during the first round of voting. If no candidate is able to garner at least 50 per cent of the votes, a second run-off round between the two top contenders would be held on May 6. The leading contenders include incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy, who is seeking a second term, Socialist challenger Francois Hollande,    far-right candidate Marine Le Pen, radical leftist Jean-Luc Melenchon and centrist Francois Bayrou. Six polling booths, four in the UT and one each in Karaikal and Chennai, have been set up.In the UT, two booths have been set up in the consulate and one each in Lycee Francaise and the French Institute of Pondicherry.  The voting would be held between 8 am and 6 pm. The Union of French people in Puducherry has decided to back Sarkozy this time around. “The organisation has assured Sarkozy of support,” its president Mohammed Mustafa told reporters here.