Puducherry Assembly Elections 2026 saw a record 89.87% turnout, a fierce NDA vs Congress alliance battle, and the debut of Vijay’s TVK, with results set for May 4.
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The small Union Territory of Puducherry is once again at the center of political attention as it completed voting for its Assembly elections in a single phase on April 9. All 30 constituencies voted on the same day. Now, the wait is almost over, as counting of votes is set for May 4.
This election carries stories of shifting loyalties, political comebacks, strong rivalries, and the arrival of a new player.
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At the heart of this election is a straight fight between two major alliances. On one side is ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led locally by All India NR Congress (AINRC) along with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
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On the other side stands the opposition alliance, led by the Congress and supported by its regional partners.
However, what makes this election different from previous ones is the entry of a new political force. Actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has stepped into the electoral field for the first time here.
While it is still new, its presence has made several constituencies more competitive and unpredictable.
One of the biggest highlights of this election has been the extraordinary voter participation. Puducherry recorded a turnout of 89.87 percent, which is the highest ever since it became part of India in 1964.
On that note, here are the key candidates who are likely to emerge as big faces this time.
One of the most talked-about contests in this election is in the Thattanchavady constituency. Here, former Chief Minister V Vaithilingam is challenging the current Chief Minister N Rangaswamy of AINRC.
Vaithilingam is one of the most experienced politicians in Puducherry. His political journey began in 1980. Over the decades, he has held many important positions. He has been minister, Speaker of the Assembly, Leader of Opposition, served multiple terms as Chief Minister.
Notably, he became the second youngest Chief Minister of Puducherry at just 40 years old. He led the government from 1991 to 1996 and again from 2008 to 2011.
In Karaikkal South, another important contest is taking place. Senior DMK leader AMH Nazeem is once again in the race.
Nazeem began his political career in 1983 and became an MLA for the first time in 1990. Over the years, he has built a strong base in Karaikal region. He won multiple elections in 1991, 1996, 2001, and 2006. When the DMK formed the government in 1996, he served as the health minister. Later, in 2006, he also became the Leader of Opposition.
In 2016, he lost an election by just 20 votes, one of the closest margins in the region. But he made a strong comeback in 2021 by winning the Karaikkal South seat with a huge margin.
The Raj Bhavan constituency has turned into one of the most competitive battlegrounds in this election. BJP’s state president VP Ramalingam is contesting from here.
This seat is witnessing a multi-cornered contest, making it highly unpredictable. Ramalingam is facing competition from Congress candidate R Kumaran, DMK’s Vignesh Kannan, NTK nominee Karpagavalli, and TVK’s VJ Chandran.
Ramalingam became a member of the legislative assembly in 2021 after being nominated by the central government. He also comes from a well-known political family. His brother, VP Sivakolundhu, is a former Congress leader and once served as the Speaker of the Puducherry Assembly.
The Lawspet constituency is witnessing another interesting contest involving V Saminathan. Once a prominent BJP leader and the longest-serving state president of the party, Saminathan is now contesting on a TVK ticket.
His shift from BJP to TVK has drawn attention. He has been associated with the BJP since the late 1990s and has served as the party’s state president three times.
Saminathan became a member of the Puducherry Legislative Assembly in 2017 after being appointed by the central government. In the 2021 elections, he contested from Lawspet but lost to Congress candidate M Vaithianathan.
This time, he is facing VP Sivakolundhu of AINRC.
A Johnkumar, currently the Minority Affairs Minister, is contesting from the Mudaliarpet constituency.
His political journey has seen several changes. He was first elected as a Congress candidate from Nellithope in 2016. Later, in 2019, he won the Kamaraj Nagar by-election.
In February 2021, he left the Congress and joined the BJP. He then contested the Assembly election from Kamaraj Nagar on a BJP ticket and won, which led to his appointment as a cabinet minister.
However, his career has not been without controversy. In September 2016, income tax officials reportedly found around Rs 1.6 crore during a search at his residence in Nellithope. Just a couple of months later, in November 2016, another raid led to the seizure of Rs 14 lakh.
Another key BJP leader in the fray is A Namassivayam, who is contesting from the Mannadipet constituency.
Namassivayam’s political story is marked by a major shift. He was once the president of the Puducherry Pradesh Congress Committee. However, in January 2021, he was suspended by the Congress for anti-party activities.
Soon after, he resigned as an MLA and joined the BJP within days. He then contested the 2021 Assembly elections from Mannadipet and won by defeating the DMK candidate with a margin of 2,750 votes.
R Siva, a senior DMK leader, is contesting once again from the Villianur constituency. He is also the Leader of Opposition in the Puducherry Assembly.
Siva first entered the Assembly in 1996 and has been elected multiple times from different constituencies.
After his victory in the 2021 elections, he received praise from his party leader MK Stalin. He was also appointed as the first secretary of the DMK unit in Puducherry.
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