Source The Hindu
PUDUCHERRY – The political landscape of Puducherry saw a decisive shift on Monday as the All India NR Congress (AINRC)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) successfully retained power in the 30-member Legislative Assembly. While Chief Minister N. Rangasamy’s veteran leadership secured the coalition’s return, the headlines were shared with actor-turned-politician Vijay, whose party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), made a successful maiden entry into the House.
The Numbers: NDA Crosses the Majority Mark
With the counting of votes for the April 9 elections concluding, the NDA comfortably crossed the halfway mark of 16 seats required for a majority.
AINRC: 12 seats
BJP: 4 seats
AIADMK: 1 seat
LJK: 1 seat
Total NDA: 18 seats
Chief Minister N. Rangasamy demonstrated his enduring popularity by securing a double victory in both constituencies he contested—Thattanchavady and Mangalam. In Thattanchavady, he defeated his nearest rival by a significant margin of 4,441 votes.
The “Vijay Factor”: TVK’s Maiden Win
The 2026 elections will be remembered for the arrival of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). In its first-ever electoral outing, the party managed to clinch two seats:
Manavely: Won by B. Ramu.
Thirubuvanai: Won by Sai J. Saravanan Kumar.
Beyond the wins, TVK candidates acted as “spoilers” in several other constituencies, securing thousands of votes that disrupted the traditional math for both the NDA and the INDIA bloc. The party’s ally, Neyam Makkal Katchi (NMK), also picked up one seat, further solidifying the third-front presence.
Opposition Struggles
The Secular Progressive Alliance (INDIA bloc), led by the DMK and Congress, failed to mount a significant challenge to the incumbent government.
DMK: 5 seats
Congress: 1 seat
Prominent leaders, including the Speaker of the outgoing Assembly, Embalam Selvam (BJP), and the Leader of the Opposition, R. Siva (DMK), were among the high-profile casualties of this election cycle.
A Historic Turnout
The 2026 polls recorded a record-breaking voter turnout of 91.23%, signaling high civic engagement across the Union Territory. Analysts suggest that while the NDA benefited from a split in the opposition vote due to TVK’s entry, the incumbent government’s welfare schemes helped maintain its core base.
With the results certified, N. Rangasamy is expected to stake his claim to form the government for a second consecutive term later this week.
