PUDUCHERRY: As results of the first French Counsular Councillor elections were declared, two from the UFE (Union de Francoise Etrangers) got elected as councillors while the third seat went to the SPP (Solidarité Pour le Progrès).
Predibane Siva and Kanagabouchanam Selvam Govindsamy of UFE, a wing of the Opposition Union for Popular Movement (UMP) party in France, and Bichat Balaramin of (SPP) group were declared elected as councillors from Puducherry.
The results released by the French Consulate on Tuesday evening, showed that the UFE polled 760 votes while the SPP managed 670 votes. As many as 2,476 voters cast their votes in four modes including postal, electronic and representation systems.
54 votes were declared invalid, taking the count of valid votes to 2,422. The voting was held in four centres located in the French Consulate in Puducherry, Lycee Francaise School, Annexe of the Consulate in Karaikal and Residence of the Honorary Consul in Chennai.
Predibane said that he would be contesting the post of councillor to the Assembly of French Citizens Abroad (AFE) on June 2.
He promised to take up issues like enhancement of assistance for elderly citizens to at least 200 euros, free scholarship to students in French schools in Puducherry and nationality for spouses of French citizens even after 10 years of married life.
These consular councillors have been elected for a period of six years and will be based in Puducherry. They can be consulted on any issues concerning French citizens in the constituency.