Andaman and Nicobar Islands Elections

About Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Andaman and Nicobar islands are a group of 572 islands, a Union Territory of India.37 islands out of 572 are inhabited. The Andaman Islands are home to the Sentinelese tribe, which is a highly reclusive uncontacted tribe. The capital of Andaman and Nicobar Islands is Port Blair and the territory consists of three districts; Nicobar district, North and Middle Andaman District, and South Andaman District. Port Blair also hosts the Andaman and Nicobar Island Command, which is the first tri-service command center of Indian Armed Forces. The center was created to safeguard India’s strategic interests in that particular region

Administration of Andaman and Nicobar Islands

The central government administers the Andaman and Nicobar islands through a ‘Lieutenant Governor’, who is appointed by the president of India. Devendra Kumar Joshi is the present Lieutenant Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The councilors are elected as representatives of people at the Port Blair Municipal Council. The council advises the Lieutenant Governor. The administration further extends to various departments and secretaries. The region has one Lok Sabha constituency.

Lok Sabha Elections in Andaman Nicobar Islands

Earlier, a Lok Sabha representative from Andaman Nicobar Islands was appointed by the president of India. However, a representative is elected based on Adult Franchise since 1967. K. R. Ganesh was the first elected MP from Andaman Nicobar Islands. In the 2019 general elections, this seat was won by Kuldeep Rai Sharma from Indian National Congress.

Lok Sabha Elections 2019 - Party Wise Election Results

Lok Sabha Elections 2019 - Constituency Wise Election Results (Winner/Runner Up)

Andaman and Nicobar Islands Lok Sabha Election Summary 2014

The lone constituency of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is once again won by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). BJP candidate Vishnupad Rai was declared the winner when the results were out.Congress candidate Kuldeep Rai Sharma was declared a runner up in the Union Territory (UT). The Andaman and Nicobar Islands was declared a UT in 1956. The UT has no ceremonial or legislature head, but the government is headed by the Lieutenant Governor. The Governor is appointment by the President of India and presently A.K. Singh is the Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands has only one Lok Sabha constituency which represents the entire Union Territory. The UT has participated in 11 Lok Sabha elections, out of which nine are won by the Indian national Congress and two by BJP. It again attended the 2014 Lok Sabha elections where elections were held on April 10, 2014. With majority of Congress' victory and BJP being the last winner in 2009 elections, it was unpredictable that which party will win this time in the elections from the UT.

Election History of Andaman and Nicobar Islands

The politics of Andaman and Nicobar is dominated by the national parties of India. These include; Indian National Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party, National Congress Party, etc. Since the beginning, Indian National Congress has had a stronghold over the Lok Sabha seat of the region. The INC has won this seat 11 times since 1967. The Bharatiya Janata Party gained a victory three times in the election. Notably, Manoranjan Bhakta from congress has consecutively won the Lok Sabha election for 7 times from 1977 to 1998. His winning spree got a break in 1999 when Bishnu Pada Ray of BJP won the seat. Manoranjan Bhakta made a comeback in 2004 and was the last time he won this Lok Sabha election. BJP’s Bishnu Pada Ray gained the seat again in 2009 and 2014. The incumbent MP who has won the 2019 Lok Sabha elections of the Andaman Nicobar Islands is Kuldeep Rai Sharma from Congress.

Demographics of Andaman and Nicobar Islands

As per the Indian census data 2011, this Union Territory has a population of about 3,80,000 with 53% males and 47% females. About 62% of the population is rural and 34% is urban. The sex ratio is 878 females per 1,000 males. There is a 70% Hindu majority, with at least 21% of Christians in the population. The average literacy rate is 87%. Bengali is the most spoken language of the islands.

About Devendra Kumar Joshi

Admiral (Retd.) Devendra Kumar Joshi is the current Lieutenant Governor of the Andaman Nicobar Islands. He has previously served as Chief of Naval Staff from 2012-2014. Joshi is the first Chief of Naval Staff to resign, he submitted his resignation taking responsibility for a series of Naval Accidents.

List of Administrators in Andaman and Nicobar Island