Since France does not collect census data based on ethnicity, statistics on how French citizens of Indian descent vote in the mainland are scarce or not credible. Nevertheless, some insights may be gained through anecdotes.

There are a significant number of French people of Indian descent from Puducherry, many of whom live in France and some residents of Puducherry.

Family ties

Those in Puducherry are generally loyal to the Republicans, the heirs of General Charles de Gaulle, with the Socialistsalso gaining some traction, Ms. Yamouna David, a Puducherry-born advocate in France, told The Hindu.

The voting preferences of those of Indian descent are also influenced by the voting in Puducherry because of family ties, according to Ms. David.

General de Gaulle was the founder of the Fifth Republic and its first President, and prior to that, leader of France Libre, the government in exile in London during 1940-44, when France was occupied by Nazi Germany.

Known among the older Pondicherriens as ‘Papa De Gaulle’, he granted French citizenship to all those in Pondicherry shortly after World War II in recognition of their support to France Libre.

In general Pondicherriens in France tend to remain with the centre — either with the Republicans or the Socialists — although over time, as the population has integrated with the general French population, its voting preferences too have expanded across the spectrum, Ms. David said, adding that she herself voted for Jean-Luc Melechon in the first round of voting on April 23. “I do believe we are in a world that cannot carry on without having an explosion of one type or another…the only political party that said this was a state of social and environmental emergency was La France Insoumise [Mr. Melenchon’s group],” Ms. David said.

With the Republicans

There are of course those who immigrated to France from India for employment or higher education and not as a direct consequence of citizenship practices of colonial governments.

This group tends to have higher average incomes than the more economically diverse Pondicherriens, according to India-born Vinod Khosla, who holds a doctoral-level degree in engineering and is the founder of the Indian Professionals Association in France.

Usually this group too has voted for the Republicans, said Mr. Khosla. “In this election they are for Mr. Macron.”