[3] The outgoing Legislative Assembly had 39 members (out of whom 25 belonged to the Indian National Congress, 11 to the People's Front (Makkaḷ Munnaṇi (Tamil:மக்கள் முன்னணி), 1 to the Praja Socialist Party and 2 independents).

Three of the candidates were women (Saraswathi Subbiah of the People's Front, P. Angammal and Padmini Chandrasekaran from the Congress Party).

[7] In the run-up to the election, there was dissent within the local unit of the Indian National Congress over the nomination of candidates.

[1] Until these polls Édouard Goubert had maintained control over the local Congress Party apparatus.

Reddiar had been the Minister of Planning in the Pondicherry cabinet since 1954, and enjoyed the support by a sector of contractors and bootleggers.

[3] The Madras State Minister for Industries R. Venkataraman (acting on behalf of the All India Congress Committee) was assigned the task to ensure that the party was reunited for the polls.

[4] One candidate, Kamishetty Sri Parasurama Vara Prasada Rao Naidu (Congress), was elected unopposed from the Yanam constituency.

[3] Amongst the elected People's Front members was V. Subbiah, who won the Modeliarpeth seat with 3,878 votes (51.80%).