The AINRC-led NDA has secured a significant victory in the Puducherry assembly elections, winning 18 out of 30 seats. This comes despite a strong challenge from the INDIA bloc.
The election recorded a historic voter turnout of 91.23%. This high participation reflects the intense competition among political parties in Puducherry.
Specifically, the NDA coalition won:
- AINRC: 12 seats
- BJP: 4 seats
- AIADMK: 1 seat
- LJK: 1 seat
On the other hand, the INDIA bloc managed to secure six seats, with the DMK winning five and Congress one. Independent candidates also made their mark by winning three seats.
Notably, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) won two seats while its ally Neyam Makkal Katchi (NMK) secured one seat. N Rangasamy, the incumbent chief minister and leader of AINRC, won the Thattanchavady constituency by a margin of 4,441 votes.
Rangasamy also claimed victory in the Mangalam constituency. Several constituencies experienced neck-and-neck battles with slim margins that kept voters on edge.
Prominent candidates who lost include R Selvam, R Siva, V P Ramalingame, and M Vaithianathan. Their defeats highlight the shifting political landscape in Puducherry.
This election sets the stage for further developments as parties regroup and strategize for future contests. The next assembly elections are expected to be even more competitive.
