AINRC-led NDA Secures Successive Term in Puducherry as Rangasamy Wins Both Seats

Key facts

• AINRC-led NDA won the April 9 Puducherry Assembly elections, securing a successive term.
• Chief Minister N. Rangasamy won both Thattanchavady and Mangalam seats, defeating rivals by 4,441 and 7,050 votes respectively.
• AINRC won 11 seats and was leading in one; BJP won 4 seats; AIADMK and LJK won 1 each.
• Opposition DMK won 5 seats; Congress won 1 seat.
• Actor Vijay’s TVK won in neighbouring Tamil Nadu and also secured 2 seats in Puducherry.
• Former CM Ve Vaithilingam lost to Rangasamy in Thattanchavady.
• V.P. Sivakolundhu, a former Congress Speaker now contesting on AINRC ticket, faces strong challenge from TVK’s V. Saminathan in Lawspet.
• Voter turnout was high, underscoring strong public participation.

Pro-Incumbency Wave Propels NDA to Victory

The All India N.R. Congress-led National Democratic Alliance has secured a second consecutive term in the Puducherry Assembly elections, riding a pro-incumbency wave. Elections for the 30-member territorial assembly were held on April 9, with the NDA crossing the majority mark as counting progressed. The victory consolidates Chief Minister N. Rangasamy’s hold on the Union Territory, which borders Tamil Nadu’s Cuddalore and Villupuram districts.

Rangasamy Wins Both Contested Seats, Trounces Rivals

Chief Minister N. Rangasamy contested from two constituencies—Thattanchavady and Mangalam—and won both. In his pocket borough of Thattanchavady, he defeated Neyam Makkal Kazhagam candidate E. Vinayagam by 4,441 votes. In Mangalam, he beat DMK’s S.S. Rangan by a margin of 7,050 votes. This is not the first time Rangasamy has contested from two seats; in the 2021 polls he lost in Yanam but won in Thattanchavady. He will now have to vacate one of the seats.

NDA Constituents and Opposition Performance

The NDA’s victory was built on contributions from its constituents. The BJP won four seats, including that of senior leader and incumbent minister A. Namassivayam. The AIADMK and the Lok Janshakti Party each secured one seat. On the opposition side, the DMK won five seats and the Congress one. Key losers include former Chief Minister V. Vaithilingam, who was defeated by Rangasamy in Thattanchavady.

TVK Makes Inroads in Puducherry and Tamil Nadu

Actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam emerged victorious in neighbouring Tamil Nadu and also won two seats in the Union Territory. The party’s performance adds a new dynamic to the regional political landscape. In Lawspet, TVK candidate V. Saminathan—a former Puducherry BJP president and the longest-serving leader in that position—poses a strong challenge to AINRC’s V.P. Sivakolundhu.

High-Stakes Contest in Lawspet: Sivakolundhu vs Saminathan

V.P. Sivakolundhu, a 74-year-old veteran politician, is contesting from Lawspet on an AINRC ticket. He previously served as a Congress MLA and Speaker of the Puducherry Assembly after V. Vaithilingam was elected to Lok Sabha in 2019. He later left Congress and joined the AINRC. His deep local roots and institutional experience make him a strong candidate, but he faces a formidable opponent in V. Saminathan of TVK, who has a long tenure as BJP state president.

High Voter Turnout Reflects Public Engagement

The election saw high voter turnout, underscoring strong public participation in the electoral process. The Union Territory, located about 160 km from Chennai, has a unique political landscape with three nominated members in addition to the 30 elected seats. The results reaffirm the NDA’s dominance, but the emergence of TVK signals shifting allegiances among voters.

Outlook: Coalition Government Formation and Vacant Seat Decision

With the NDA set to form the government, attention now turns to cabinet formation and Rangasamy’s decision on which seat to vacate. The opposition, led by the DMK with five seats, will seek to hold the government accountable. The performance of TVK in two seats suggests a potential realignment in future elections. The coming days will reveal the composition of the new government and the allocation of portfolios.

The bottom line

• The AINRC-led NDA retained power in Puducherry, winning 11 seats and leading in one, with the BJP contributing four seats.
• Chief Minister N. Rangasamy won both constituencies he contested, defeating rivals by margins exceeding 4,400 votes.
• Actor Vijay’s TVK won two seats in Puducherry, marking its entry into the Union Territory’s political arena.
• Former Speaker V.P. Sivakolundhu, now with AINRC, faces a tough contest in Lawspet against TVK’s V. Saminathan.
• High voter turnout indicated strong public engagement, reflecting the significance of the election.
• Rangasamy must vacate one of his two seats, which could trigger a by-election and affect the assembly’s composition.