2026 Puducherry Legislative Assembly election
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9 April 2026
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30[a] of 33 seats in the Puducherry Legislative Assembly
17 seats needed for a majority
Opinion polls
Registered 9,44,211 (Decrease 6.01%)[1]
Turnout 91.23% (Increase 7.81pp)
 
Leader N. Rangaswamy V. Vaithilingam
Party AINRC INC
Alliance NDA SPA
Leader since 2011 2023
Leader's seat Thattanchavady
Mangalam		 Thattanchavady
Last election 25.85%, 10 seats 15.71%, 2 seats
Current seats 10 4
Seats needed Increase 6 Increase 12
Current Alliance seats 16 11
Alliance seats needed Steady Increase 5
Map of the assembly constituencies in Puducherry
Incumbent Chief Minister

N. Rangaswamy
AINRC


Legislative Assembly elections were held in Puducherry on 9 April 2026 to elect all the 30 members of the Puducherry Legislative Assembly. The votes will be counted and the results will be declared on 4 May 2026.

Background

Elections to a Legislative Assembly in India are usually held once in five years, and the members of the legislative assembly are directly elected to serve five year terms from single-member constituencies.

The tenure of Puducherry Legislative Assembly is scheduled to end on 15 June 2026.[2] In the previous assembly elections held in April 2021, the All India N.R. Congress-led National Democratic Alliance formed the state government after winning 16 out of 30 seats in the assembly, with N. Rangaswamy sworn in as the Chief Minister.[3]

In the later part of 2025, the Election Commission of India conducted a Special Intensive Revision after 24 years, to revise the electoral rolls.[4]

Schedule

The Election Commission of India announced the schedule for the election on 15 March 2026.[5]

Event Date
Date for Nomination 16 March 2026
Last date for filing nominations 23 March 2026
Scrutiny of nominations 24 March 2026
Last date for withdrawal of nomination 26 March 2026
Polling 9 April 2026
Counting of votes 4 May 2026
Deadline for the completion of election process 6 May 2026

Voter statistics

According to the Election Commission of India, 9,44,211 voters were eligible to vote in the assembly elections in Puducherry. This includes 4,43,595 male, 5,00,477 female, and 139 third gender voters.[1]

Parties and alliances

National Democratic Alliance

National Democratic Alliance seat sharing map

The seat sharing for the National Democratic Alliance was finalised on 20 March 2026.[6]

National Democratic Alliance[6]
Party Flag Symbol Leader Seats
All India N.R. Congress N. Rangasamy[7] 16[6]
Bharatiya Janata Party V. P. Ramalingame[8] 10[6]
All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam A. Anbalagan[9] 2[6]
Latchiya Jananayaga Katchi Jose Charles Martin[10] 2[6]
Total 30

Secular Progressive Alliance

Secular Progressive Alliance seat sharing map

As per the seat-sharing agreement finalised on 23 March 2026, the Indian National Congress and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) agreed to contest in 17 and 13 seats respectively.[11][12] However, the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), which was allocated one seat by the DMK, exited the alliance on 24 March 2026 citing seat-sharing disagreements.[13] However, later on 6 April, the VCK announced that it will contest only in the Oulgret constituency, and will support the coalition canditates in the other three seats, where it fielded candidates.[14] The Communist Party of India (CPI) and Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)), which are part of the alliance in Tamil Nadu, withdrew from the alliance and announced candidates from select constituencies. The DMK and Congress were also engaged in friendly contests in five constituencies.[15]

Secular Progressive Alliance
Party Flag Symbol Leader Seats
Indian National Congress V. Vaithilingam 15+7[11][15]
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam R. Siva 8+5[11]
Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi Deva Pozhilan[16] 0+2[14]
Total 22+8[b]

Friendly Fight between Allies in following constituencies:

No. Parties Constituency
No. Name
1 INC and DMK 4 Mangalam
2 12 Kalapet
3 14 Raj Bhavan
4 27 Karaikal South
5 INC, DMK and CPI(M) 2 Thirubuvanai (SC)
6 INC and VCK 3 Ossudu (SC) 6 Ozhukarai

TVK–led Alliance

On 22 March 2026, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) announced its candidates for 30 constituencies in Puducherry.[17] Subsequently, Neyam Makkal Kazhagam, led by G. Nehru Kuppusamy, entered into an alliance with TVK and was allocated two seats.[18]

TVK–led Alliance
Party Flag Symbol Leader Seats
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam Vijay[18] 28[18]
Neyam Makkal Kazhagam G. Nehru Kuppusamy[18] 2[18]
Total 30

SNMMK–AIPTMMK Alliance

On 20 March 2026, the S. Ramadoss-led faction of the Pattali Makkal Katchi, formed an alliance with All India Puratchi Thalaivar Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AIPTMMK), led by V. K. Sasikala, for the assembly elections in Puducherry.[19] On 25 March 2026, a seat-sharing agreement was signed between G. Sathiyamoorthy of Sengol Needhi Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam and Sasikala of AIPTMMK for the elections.[20][21]

SNMMK–AIPTMMK Alliance
Party Flag Symbol Leader Seats
Sengol Needhi Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam Sathiyamurthy 10[20]
All India Puratchi Thalaivar Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam V. K. Sasikala[22] 4[21]
Total 14

Others

Party Flag Symbol Leader Seats
Naam Tamilar Katchi Seeman[23] 28/30[24]
Communist Party of India A. M. Saleem[25] 0+1
Communist Party of India (Marxist) S. Ramachandran[26] 0+2

Candidates

District No. Constituency NDA SPA TVK+
Party Candidate Party Candidate Party Candidate
Puducherry 1 Mannadipet BJP A. Namassivayam INC T. P. R. Selvame TVK K. Bharathithasan
2 Thirubuvanai (SC) AINRC B. Kobiga DMK P. Angalane TVK A. K. Sai J. Saravanan Kumar
3 Ossudu (SC) BJP E. Theeppainthan INC P. Karthikeyan TVK S. Saraganabava
4 Mangalam AINRC N. Rangasamy DMK S. S. Rangan TVK M. K. Sathia Manikkavasagane
5 Villianur AINRC Ravikumar DMK R. Siva TVK R. Ramesh
6 Ozhukarai AINRC K. Narayanasamy VCK Selva. Pushpalatha TVK Sasibalan
7 Kadirkamam AINRC K. S. P. Ramesh DMK P. Vadivelu TVK Jayanthi Rajavelu
8 Indira Nagar AINRC A. K. D. Arumugam INC N. Rajakumar TVK S. Mourougane
9 Thattanchavady AINRC N. Rangasamy INC V. Vaithilingam NMK E. Vinayagam
10 Kamaraj Nagar LJK Jose Charles Martin INC P. K. Devadoss TVK Suman
11 Lawspet AINRC V. P. Sivakolundhu INC M. Vaithianathan TVK V. Saminathan
12 Kalapet BJP P. M. L. Kalyanasundaram DMK A. Senthil Ramesh TVK D. Sasikumar
13 Muthialpet AINRC Vaiyapuri Manikandan INC M. Rajendran TVK J. Prakash Kumar
14 Raj Bhavan BJP V. P. Ramalingame DMK Vignesh Kannan TVK V. J. Chandran
15 Oupalam AIADMK A. Anbalagan DMK Annibal Kennedy TVK S. Siva
16 Orleampeth AIADMK A. Gandhi DMK S. Gopal NMK G. Nehru Kuppusamy
17 Nellithope LJK A. Jayakumar DMK V. Karthikeyan TVK S. Vigneshwaran
18 Mudaliarpet BJP A. Johnkumar DMK L. Sambath TVK N. Manibalan
19 Ariankuppam AINRC Aiyappan INC D. Vijayalakshmy TVK Kumaravelu
20 Manavely BJP Embalam R. Selvam INC R. K. R. Anantharaman TVK B. Ramu
21 Embalam (SC) AINRC Mohamdaoss INC M. Kandaswamy TVK V. Tamilselvan
22 Nettapakkam (SC) AINRC Rajavelu INC P. Sadasivam TVK L. Periasamy
23 Bahour AINRC T. Thiagarajan DMK R. Senthilkumar TVK N. Dhanavelou
Karaikal 24 Nedungadu (SC) AINRC Chandira Priyanga INC Dinesh Kumar TVK U. Kamaraj
25 Thirunallar BJP G. N. S. Rajasekaran INC R. Kamalakannan TVK A. Raja Mohamed
26 Karaikal North AINRC P. R. N. Thirumurugan INC A. M. Ranjith TVK A. Vengadesh
27 Karaikal South BJP M. Arulmurugan DMK A. M. H. Nazeem TVK K. A. U. Assana
28 Neravy T. R. Pattinam BJP T. K. S. M. Meenatchisundaram DMK M. Nagathiyagarajan TVK Pranadarti Gareswaran
Mahe 29 Mahe BJP A. Dineshan INC Ramesh Parambath TVK Prijesh M
Yanam 30 Yanam AINRC Malladi Krishna Rao INC Gollapalli Srinivas Ashok TVK Thota Raju

Surveys and polls

Exit polls

Seat projections
Polling agency Date published Lead
NDA SPA TVK+ Others

Voter Turnout

Turnout
District Vote %
Karaikal 86.77%
Mahé 77.41%
Puducherry 90.47%
Yanam 93.35%
Total 91.23%

Results

By alliance or party

Alliance/ Party Popular vote Seats
Votes % ±pp Contested Won +/−
NDA All India N.R. Congress 16
Bharatiya Janata Party 10
All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam 2
Latchiya Jananayaka Katchi 2
Total ' 30
SPA Indian National Congress 21
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam 13
Total ' 30[b]
TVK Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam 28
Neyam Makkal Kazhagam 2
Total ' 30[b]
Other parties
Independents
NOTA
Total 100% — — 30 —

By district

District Seats
NDA SPA TVK+ Others
Puducherry 23
Karaikal 5
Mahe 1
Yanam 1
Total 30

By constituency

District Constituency Winner Runner-up Margin
No. Name Candidate Party Votes % Candidate Party Votes %
Puducherry 1 Mannadipet
2 Thirubuvanai (SC)
3 Ossudu (SC)
4 Mangalam
5 Villianur
6 Ozhukarai
7 Kadirkamam
8 Indira Nagar
9 Thattanchavady
10 Kamaraj Nagar
11 Lawspet
12 Kalapet
13 Muthialpet
14 Raj Bhavan
15 Oupalam
16 Orleampeth
17 Nellithope
18 Mudaliarpet
19 Ariankuppam
20 Manavely
21 Embalam (SC)
22 Nettapakkam (SC)
23 Bahour
Karaikal 24 Nedungadu (SC)
25 Thirunallar
26 Karaikal North
27 Karaikal South
28 Neravy T. R. Pattinam
Mahé 29 Mahe
Yanam 30 Yanam

Notes

  1. ^ Three members are nominated by the Lieutenant Governor.
  2. ^ a b c Friendly contests in eight constituencies.

References

  1. ^ a b "Puducherry publishes final electoral roll; over 9.4 lakh voters registered". madhyamamonline.com. 14 February 2026. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  2. ^ "Term of the Houses". Election Commission of India. Archived from the original on 7 August 2025. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  3. ^ "NR Congress-BJP alliance emerges victorious in Puducherry assembly polls". Business Standard. 3 May 2021. Archived from the original on 6 December 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  4. ^ "SIR rollout schedule announced in Puducherry". The Hindu. 29 October 2025. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2 November 2025.
  5. ^ "Puducherry election dates: Voting on April 9, results on May 4". The Hindustan Times. 15 March 2026. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "Puducherry Assembly Polls: AINRC, BJP Seat Sharing Deal". Deccan Herald. 20 March 2026. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
  7. ^ "Puducherry: BJP draws clear strategy to fight the election in alliance with CM Rangaswamy's AINRC". The Week. 14 February 2026. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
  8. ^ "Mansukh Mandaviya appointed BJP in-charge for Puducherry ahead of 2026 polls". The Economic Times. 19 April 2025. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  9. ^ "AIADMK seeks reshuffle of police officers working in suburban and rural areas in Puducherry". The Hindu. 4 July 2025. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
  10. ^ "Businessman Jose Charles Martin floats new party in Puducherry". The Hindu. 14 December 2025. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  11. ^ a b c "Puducherry polls: Congress-DMK seal seat-sharing pact; sitting MP Vaithilingam to take on CM Rangasamy". India TV. 23 March 2026. Retrieved 23 March 2026.
  12. ^ "Puducherry Assembly election 2026: Congress, DMK leaders to meet again for seat-sharing talks". The Hindu. 15 March 2026. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
  13. ^ "Puducherry elections 2026: Upset VCK exits DMK-Congress alliance, decides to contest alone". The Hindu. 25 March 2026. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 25 March 2026.
  14. ^ a b "VCK to contest only in Oulgaret constituency in Puducherry". The New Indian Express. 6 April 2026. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  15. ^ a b "Friendly contest' clouds INDIA bloc's prospects in Puducherry". The New Indian Express. 26 March 2026. Retrieved 31 March 2026.
  16. ^ "VCK workers stage demonstration". The Hindu. 5 March 2025. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
  17. ^ "புதுச்சேரி தேர்தலுக்கான த.வெ.க. வேட்பாளர் பட்டியல் வெளியீடு" [TVK releases candidate list for Puducherry elections]. Daily Thanthi (in Tamil). 22 March 2026. Retrieved 23 March 2026.
  18. ^ a b c d e "TVK Alliance in Puducherry". News18. 23 March 2026. Retrieved 23 March 2026.
  19. ^ "Ramadoss-led PMK, Sasikala''s outfit join forces for Assembly polls in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry". ThePrint. 20 March 2026. Retrieved 21 March 2026.
  20. ^ a b "புதுச்சேரியில் செங்கோல் நீதி மக்கள் முன்னேற்றக் கழகத்துடன் சசிகலாவின் புதிய கட்சி கூட்டணி..!" [Sasikala Joined hands with another party in Puducherry]. Dinakaran (in Tamil). 25 March 2026. Retrieved 31 March 2026.
  21. ^ a b "புதுச்சேரி தேர்தலிலும் களம் காணும் சசிகலா: 4 தொகுதிகளில் போட்டி" [Sasikala's Alignment on Pondicherry seat sharing]. Maalai Malar (in Tamil). 26 March 2026. Retrieved 31 March 2026.
  22. ^ "Sasikala announces her party's name: All India Puratchi Thalaivar Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam". The Hindu. 13 March 2026. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
  23. ^ "Seeman backs TVK chief on UT's statehood". DT Next. 9 December 2025. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
  24. ^ "NTK announces candidates for Assembly polls in Puducherry". The Hindu. 7 March 2026. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  25. ^ "Saleem re-elected secretary of CPI's Puducherry unit". The Hindu. 3 September 2025. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 11 September 2025.
  26. ^ "CPI (M) demands scrapping of Smart Meter project in Puducherry". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 28 October 2025. Retrieved 20 March 2026.