Chief Minister and AINRC leader N Rangasamy on Monday won from Thattanchavady and Mangalam, the two seats from where he contested the April 9 Assembly elections in this union territory.

While the CM trounced Neyam Makkal Kazhagam rival E Vinayagam by 4441 votes in Thattanchavady, his pocket borough seat, Rangasamy emerged victorious in Managalam too, defeating DMK’s SS Rangan by 7050 votes.

- PTI

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is set to retain power in the Union Territory of Puducherry. As counting continues this Monday, the alliance led by Chief Minister N. Rangasamy has already surged past the majority threshold, currently leading in or having won 17 seats in the 30-member Assembly.

The All India NR Congress (AINRC) remains the powerhouse of the alliance, securing 11 seats (9 wins, 2 leads). With the halfway mark set at 16, the NDA’s performance ensures a stable path to forming the next government before the current assembly term expires on June 15.

LJK founder Jose Charles Martin was elected from the Kamaraj Nagar constituency in Puducherry on Monday. He defeated his immediate Congress rival P.K. Devadoss.

LJK is an alliance partner of the AINRC-led NDA here. According to Election Commission data, Martin polled 16,592 votes and Devadoss got 10,205 votes.

Meanwhile, Vignesh Kannan of DMK was elected to the Puducherry Assembly from Raj Bhavan constituency. He defeated BJP candidate V P Ramalingame by 287 votes. Kannan polled 7,304 votes and Ramalingame - 7017 votes.

-PTI

Reacting to the NDA’s victory in Puducherry, PM Modi on his social media says, “The people of Puducherry have granted the National Democratic Alliance another term in office.”

Reacting to the results of the Puducherry Assembly election, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (May 4) expressed gratitude towards the party leaders of the NDA.

He said “I’m very proud of our NDA Karyakartas of Puducherry for their exceptional efforts on the ground. They have constantly been among the people and elaborated on our vision and track record. This has ensured that people have blessed us again. “

TVK candidates B . Ramu and Sai J. Saravanan Kumar on Monday (May 4) won from Manavely and Thirubuvanai Assembly constituencies, respectively, in Puducherry.

The Assembly elections to the union territory were held on April 9. This is a maiden poll battle for the TVK, led by actor Vijay.

According to Election Commission data, Mr. Ramu (TVK) got 13,882 votes, and Embalam Selvam (BJP) received 10,729 votes.

Mr. Selvam was the speaker of the outgoing Assembly. In Thirubuvanai, Saravanan Kumar of TVK polled 9,740 votes, and B. Kobiga of Congress got 9,039 votes.

- PTI

In a surprising turn of events, AK. Sai J. Saravanan Kumar from Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam has won the Thirubhuvanai seat in Puducherry district, defeating B. Kobiga of All India N.R. Congress by just 701 votes. 

This marks a significant upset, as the previous winner, P. Angalane from Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, secured more votes than the current winning margin in the last election.

In an unexpected turn of events, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s Vignesh Kannan has pulled off a stunning victory in Raj Bhavan constituency, Puducherry district, securing a mere 287-vote margin over the Bharatiya Janata Party’s V.P. Ramalingame. 

This is noteworthy as this seat has changed hands, marking a significant shift from the previous election. Additionally, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam’s V.J. Chandran gained 2,361 votes, highlighting a tight three-way contest in this electoral battle.

In Thirunallar, the Assembly election race has taken an unexpected turn as G.N.S. Rajasekharan of the Bharatiya Janata Party surges ahead, currently leading R. Kamalakannan of the Indian National Congress by 2,325 votes. 

The count is at 33% completion, with a significant shift from the previous winner Pr. Siva (Independent) who won by 1,380 votes in 2021. So far, this is the first time the lead has changed hands during the ongoing elections in Thirunallar.

With the counting of votes underway for the Puducherry Assembly elections held on April 9, 2026, anticipation is building over the formation of the next government.

The constituencies and AINRC candidates are:

• Villianur - B. Ravicoumar
• Thattanchavady - N. Rangasamy
• Lawspet - V.P. Sivakolundhu
• Muthialpet - Vaiyapuri Manikandan
• Ariankuppam - C. Aiyappan (Mouttayappan)
• Embalam - E. Mohandoss
• Nettapakkam - P. Rajavelu
• Karaikal North - P.R.N. Thirumurugan

Independent candidate Adv. T. Ashok Kumar has claimed victory in Mahe overthrowing the ruling Indian National Congress by a margin of 1,115 votes. 

In the 2021 elections, Ramesh Parambath (INC) won in the constituency with a 1.3% lead. 

P.R.N. Thirumurugan, Minister for Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs in the Puducherry government, retained the Karaikal North Assembly constituency for a fourth consecutive term, having represented the seat as MLA and Minister since 2011.

Mr. Thirumurugan secured 12,731 votes to defeat his nearest rival Ranjith of the Congress, who polled 10,078 votes. The margin of victory was 2,653 votes.

Among the other candidates, Vignesh of the TVK received 5,033 votes, while Anusiya of the Naam Tamilar Katchi polled 480 votes.

- M. Nacchinarkkiniyan

An Independent candidate, who contested as a rebel from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), defeated the sitting MLA — the only woman member in the Puducherry Assembly — to win the Nedungadu (SC) constituency, the lone reserved seat among the five constituencies in Karaikal district, after three rounds of counting on Monday (May 4, 2026).

V. Vigneshwaran secured 14,368 votes, defeating S. Chandrapriyanga of the All India N.R. Congress, who polled 9,869 votes. The margin of victory was 4,499 votes.

- M. Nacchinarkkiniyan

INC candidate P. Karthikeyan secured a significant victory in Oussudu, defeating the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s E. Theepaintthan with a margin of 4,018 votes. This win marks a shift from the previous election where the BJP held this seat, with Ak Sai J Saravanan Kumar winning by a narrower margin of 6.6%.

Photo credits: Special Arrangement

DMK candidate V. Cartigueyane clinched Nellithope constituency by 850 votes, dethroning BJP candidate Richards Johnkumar of BJP, who won in 2021 with a margin of just 496 votes.

TVK candidate S. Vigneshwaran secured 4,763 votes, more than the current winning margin, indicating a potential shift in voter preferences.

In Lawspet, AINRC’s V.P. Sivakolundhu is in a tight race with Congress’s M. Vaithianathan, with just 981 votes separating them. 80% of the count is complete. The previous winner, M. Vaithianathan, saw a significant drop in vote share this year, while the projected turnout has increased by 9.5% points.

V. Saminathan from Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam secured 4,799 votes, which is currently more than the winning margin.

AINRC founder and Chief Minister N. Rangasamy widens his lead over Congress candidate V. Vaithilingam by 3,591 votes in Thattanchavady constituency.

- Rajesh B. Nair

BJP candidate and Puducherry’s Home Minister A. Namassivayam is leading in Mannadipet constituency by 1,793 votes.

- Rajesh B. Nair

As counting progresses in 9 of the 30 Assembly constituencies, ruling AINRC is leading in 4 seats, Congress in 2, DMK and AIADMK in one each and one Independent (Mahe) . 

AINRC founder and Chief Minister N. Rangasamy is ahead of his nearest rival V. Vaithilingam of Congress party in Thattanchavady constituency. 

- Rajesh B. Nair

In Mahe, Independent candidate A. T. Ashok Kumar takes the lead from Indian National Congress’s Ramesh Parambath by 428 votes. 

Bharatiya Janata Party’s A. Dinesan received 1,288 votes, more than the current winning margin, making him a potential contender as the voting progresses.

A surprising shift has occurred in the Muthialpet constituency as Vaiyapuri Manikandan of All India N.R. Congress takes the lead from Eeram G. Rajendran of Indian National Congress with a 37-vote margin. 

The count is currently at 25%. 

Independent candidate M. Prabagaran received 1,200 votes so far, which exceeds the current winning margin. 

Counting arrangements have begun in Karaikal, with officials stepping up preparations ahead of the vote count.

Police have diverted traffic on the Karaikal–Tharangambadi route in view of security measures at the counting centre set up at Arignar Anna Government Arts and Science College. Votes polled in all five constituencies of Karaikal district in the Union Territory of Puducherry will be counted at this centre.

- M. Nacchinarkkiniyan

Counting of postal ballots has been initiated in all counting centres in Puducherry. A total of 12, 936 postal ballots are being counted before moving to the next stage of opening EVMs. The incumbent AINRC regime has put up a big fight to retain power. 

- Rajesh B. Nair

The Union Territory of Puducherry is all set for the counting of votes to elect a 30-member Legislative Assembly on Monday (May 4, 2026).

Preparations are complete in all six counting centres spread across the four regions of Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam. Election officials, some of the candidates, polling agents of candidates and political parties have started arriving at the counting centres from 7 a.m.

Through the ups and downs of a political career spanning over three decades, four-time Chief Minister and All India NR Congress (AINRC) founder N. Rangasamy remains a force to reckon with in Puducherry politics, as the 75-year-old prepares to lead the National Democratic Alliance’s campaign for re-election in the April 9 Assembly polls.

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Puducherry’s electoral landscape is made up of the following key players: the All India N.R. Congress (AINRC), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Congress, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), and the Left parties. This year, actor Vijay’s party Tamilga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) is set to make its electoral debut. Independent candidates also account for a large part of the total candidate pool (117 out of 291 candidates) this year.

This is how these parties have allied with each other:

The Union Territory of Puducherry has recorded a historic high voter turnout of 91.23% in the polls that concluded on Thursday (April 9, 2026) to elect a 30-member Legislative Assembly.

Officials in the Puducherry Elections Department said the votes polled on the Electronic Voting Machines were 89.87% of the total 9,50,639 electors who were mentioned in the final electoral roll for the 2026 Assembly polls.

The previous highest voter turnout of 86% was recorded in the 2006 polls. The voter turnout in some of the other Assembly elections is as follows: 2021 - 83.3%; 2016 - 85.08%; 2011 - 85.52%; 2001 - 70.1%; 1996 - 75.33%; 1991 - 67.73%; 1990 - 72.3%; 1985 - 78.39% and 1980 - 80.41%.

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The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Sunday (May 3, 2026) said it would uphold the “highest standards of transparency, security and efficiency” during the counting of votes on Monday (May 4, 2026) for the elections to the Assemblies of Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry and the bye-elections in seven Assembly constituencies of five States.

In Puducherry, the fate of 294 candidates, including AINRC founder and Chief Minister N. Rangasamy, who were in the fray to elect the 16th Assembly, will be known on Monday (May 4, 2026) as election officials gear up for the counting of votes in centres spread across all four regions of the Union Territory. The Union Territory had registered a record voter turnout of 91.23% in the polls held on April 9 to elect a 30-member Assembly.

Though the main electoral battle was between the ruling National Democratic Alliance led by the AINRC and the INDIA bloc, the fielding of candidates, including some former legislators, by the TVK in all constituencies had made the contest in Puducherry evenly poised.