Chennai: Jose Charles Martin, businessman and son of India’s lottery king Santiago Martin, is ready to launch a political get together in December, ThePrint has learnt. The formal announcement might be made within the second week of December, with Puducherry because the get together’s headquarters.

The get together plans to contest all 30 seats within the 2026 Puducherry meeting elections, a supply accustomed to the matter stated.

Jose distanced himself from the BJP final yr following a disagreement with native leaders on get together affairs. Since then, the 39-year-old has been constructing a public base for himself throughout the union territory by way of his self-owned public entity, JCM Makkal Mandram (JCM public discussion board).

In latest months, the businessman distributed necessities like groceries and garments to residents of Puducherry by way of his public enterprise. He additionally sponsored welfare programmes and organised medical camps throughout the union territory.

JCM Makkal Mandram now has a presence in 25 of 30 constituencies in Puducherry.

Jose’s elevated public exercise has not gone unnoticed. Former chief minister and senior Congress chief V. Narayanasamy accused the BJP of mentioning a B crew in Puducherry forward of the 2026 meeting election.

“The Makkal Mandram launched by businessman Jose Charles Martin is the B Staff of the BJP. He has been offering free meals to individuals in Kamaraj Nagar, Mudaliarpet, and Bahour constituencies, aside from distributing reward hampers along with his image,” Narayanasamy alleged on 23 October.

He additionally alleged that a number of BJP MLAs are affiliated with Jose and help in distributing the reward hampers of their constituencies.

Days after Narayanasamy’s allegation, BJP President V.P. Ramalingam, on 30 October, stated they don’t approve of the get together’s legislators being near the Makkal Mandram launched by Jose.

“BJP has nothing to do with the latest public exercise of Jose Charles Martin. We’ve knowledgeable the get together’s excessive command concerning the state of affairs and a celebration delegation from the Centre will quickly launch an inquiry into the occasions,” Ramalingam informed reporters in Puducherry.

Puducherry, a 30-member constituency, has 10 MLAs from All India N.R. Congress (AINRC), 6 from BJP, 6 from Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), 2 from Congress, and 6 impartial candidates. The ruling AINRC additionally enjoys help from the BJP and two different impartial MLAs.

(Edited by Sampurna Panigrahi)

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