AINRC-led NDA retains power in Puducherry, crosses majority mark
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Chief Minister N. Rangasamy-led All India N.R. Congress (AINRC)-BJP alliance retained power in Puducherry on Monday, comfortably crossing the majority mark in the 30-member Assembly and securing another term in office.
According to the latest results, the AINRC emerged as the single largest party with 12 seats, while its ally Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won four seats, taking the NDA tally well past the majority mark of 16 seats.
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) secured five seats, while actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) made a notable electoral debut by winning two constituencies. The Congress managed to secure one seat. Other parties, including the Latchiya Jananayaka Katchi (LJK), AIADMK, and Neyam Makkal Kazhagam (NYMK), also opened their accounts, while Independents won three constituencies.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked the people of Puducherry for re-electing the NDA government and praised alliance workers for taking the coalition’s “vision and track record” to the people.
Chief Minister N. Rangasamy retained the Thattanchavady constituency by a margin of 4,441 votes, reinforcing the ruling alliance’s position amid a high voter turnout of nearly 89.87 per cent.
One of the most closely watched contests came in Raj Bhavan, where DMK candidate Vignesh Kannan defeated BJP’s V.P. Ramalingame by a narrow margin of just 287 votes. The DMK also wrested Nellithope, while the Congress secured victory in Oussudu.
The election also saw the emergence of new political players. Jose Charles Martin, founder of the Latchiya Jananayaga Katchi and son of businessman Santiago Martin, won the Kamaraj Nagar constituency by defeating Congress candidate P.K. Devadoss. Martin secured 16,592 votes against Devadoss’ 10,205.
TVK, led by actor Vijay, marked its first electoral success in Puducherry with victories in Manavely and Thirubuvanai. B. Ramu won Manavely by defeating outgoing Speaker Embalam Selvam of the BJP, while A.K. Sai J. Saravanan Kumar secured Thirubuvanai by a slender margin of 701 votes.
Political observers noted that although TVK won only two seats, the party influenced contests in several constituencies by polling significant votes and affecting victory margins.
Independent candidates also produced surprise outcomes. V. Vigneswaran defeated sitting AINRC MLA Chandrapriyanga in Nedungadu, while T. Ashok Kumar emerged victorious in Mahe.
