Puducherry election results: NDA leads in early trends

The counting of votes in the 2026 Puducherry Assembly elections was underway on Monday.

As of 10.35 am, National Democratic Alliance, led by the All India NR Congress, was leading in 16 seats and the Congress in four, in early trends, reports and data from the Election Commission showed. The counting began at 8 am.

Although the Puducherry Assembly has 33 seats, three of its members are nominated by the Union government. They enjoy the same powers as the 30 MLAs who are directly elected.

The majority mark in the 30-member Assembly is 16. However, after the three members are nominated, a party or an alliance needs 17 seats to secure a majority.

Exit polls have forecast that the National Democratic Alliance would retain power.

All 30 constituencies in the Union Territory, which has 9.5 lakh voters, went to the polls on April 9. An all-time high voter turnout of 91.2% was recorded. The previous record was 86% in the 2006 polls.

In 2021, the National Democratic Alliance, led by the All India NR Congress, secured power, winning 16 seats. N Rangasamy had become the chief minister.

The alliance, aiming to retain power, is facing the Opposition Secular Progressive Alliance, mainly comprising the Congress and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.

Weeks ahead of the polls, the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi had...

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