Businessman Jose Charles Martin floats new party in Puducherry

Businessman Jose Charles Martin on Sunday (December 14, 2025) floated his political outfit Latchiya Jananayaga Katchi ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections in Puducherry.

Mr. Martin, son of lottery ‘king’ Santiago Martin, who is currently under investigation by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED), has been engaged in “welfare activities” in Puducherry for the last few months through his outfit JCM Makkal Mandram. He has decided to convert the mandram into a political organisation to contest the Assembly polls in the Union Territory.

Announcing the launch of the party in Puducherry at an event held at Pondy Marina, he said the LJK will contest the coming Assembly elections with a promise to make the territory a developed region. 

According to Mr. Martin, the present ruling dispensation (AINRC-BJP government) as well as the opposition parties, while in power, have failed to address issues of unemployment, housing, providing clean drinking water and good medical facilities. “The existing political parties in Puducherry have formed a syndicate,” he said. 

Two Independent legislators, M. Sivasankar and P. Angalane, both associated members of the ruling BJP in the Puducherry Assembly, were present at the launch event. The party has appointed BJP Minister A. John Kumar’s son, Regan John Kumar, is one of the general secretaries of LJK.