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Puducherry Election 2026: Puducherry votes on April 9, 2026, across 30 seats. With NDA, INC-DMK and TVK in the fray, results on May 4 will decide who governs next.
LoP Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, MP KC Venugopal and others during a meeting ahead of the Puducherry Assembly elections. (PTI file photo)
Puducherry is preparing for its 16th Legislative Assembly election, and the political temperature in the Union Territory is already running high. The Election Commission of India announced the schedule on March 15, 2026, with voting set for a single day across all 30 constituencies. Here is everything you need to know.
Key Dates At A Glance
Schedule announced: March 15, 2026
Polling date: April 9, 2026
Counting begins: May 4, 2026, 8 AM
Results declared: May 4, 2026
Current assembly term ends: June 15, 2026
The Seats And Voters
Puducherry has 30 assembly constituencies, all of which go to the polls simultaneously on April 9 in a single phase. The Election Commission registered a total of 9,44,211 voters for this election, comprising 4,43,595 male voters, 5,00,477 female voters and 139 third gender voters. Female voters outnumber male voters in Puducherry, a demographic detail no competing alliance has overlooked.
Key Candidates
Among the prominent candidates, Chief Minister N. Rangaswamy of the All India N.R. Congress is contesting from Thattanchavady constituency.Former Chief Minister and sitting Congress MP V. Vaithilingam is also fielded from the same Thattanchavady seat, setting up one of the most watched direct contests of the election. Several senior Congress leaders have been given tickets from key constituencies, including DPR Selvam from Mannadipattu, P. Karthikeyan from Oosudu, N. Raja Kumar from Indiranagar, P.K. Devadoss from Kamarajnagar and M. Vaithianathan from Lawspet. The DMK is contesting 14 seats as part of the opposition alliance, while the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam has decided to fight independently across all 30 seats, fielding a mix of new faces and candidates from other parties.
Also Read: ‘Unavoidable Circumstances’: Former Puducherry Congress Chief Quits Party Ahead Of Polls
What Are The Alliances?
The ruling NDA front has finalised its seat-sharing arrangement with four partners. The All India N.R. Congress, led by Chief Minister N. Rangaswamy, is contesting 16 seats and leading the alliance. The BJP is fielding candidates in 10 constituencies. The AIADMK and the newly formed Latchiya Jananayaga Katchi, led by Jose Charles Martin, son of lottery businessman Santiago Martin, are each contesting two seats.
Also Read: Who Is N Rangasamy? Meet Puducherry’s ‘Makkal Mudhalvar’ Who Shaped Its Politics For Decades
The LJK’s inclusion caused internal friction within the NDA, with Rangaswamy initially opposing the new entrant before reaffirming the alliance following discussions with BJP leadership. Rangaswamy filed his nominations from Thattanchavadi and Mangalam and remains the NDA’s declared Chief Ministerial face.
On the opposition side, the Indian National Congress and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam finalised their seat-sharing arrangement with Congress contesting 16 seats and the DMK taking 14, covering all 30 constituencies between them. The Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, which was initially in talks with the alliance, exited the arrangement before the withdrawal deadline.
Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, making its electoral debut in Puducherry, announced candidates for all 30 constituencies on March 22, 2026, adding a credible third dimension to an already competitive contest.
Also Read: Congress Rebels To Challenge Allies DMK, VCK In 6 Seats For Upcoming Puducherry Polls
What Do The 2021 And 2016 Numbers Say?
In the 2021 assembly elections, the AINRC-led NDA returned to power. The AINRC won 10 seats, the BJP and the DMK six each and Congress won two. The AIADMK failed to win a single seat despite contesting as an NDA partner. Voter turnout that year stood at 84.8 percent.
The 2016 election told a different story. Congress emerged as the largest single party with 15 seats, while the AINRC won eight, the AIADMK four and the DMK two. Voter turnout that year stood at 83.6 percent.
What Is At Stake
A majority in Puducherry requires just 16 seats, which means a swing of even three to four constituencies can completely change the outcome. The INC-DMK combine will be hoping to convert anti-incumbency into a decisive mandate, while the ruling NDA front will lean on Rangaswamy’s record and five years of governance. TVK’s entry as a third force adds genuine unpredictability, particularly among younger voters. By the evening of May 4, Puducherry’s next government will be known.
Puducherry, India, India
March 31, 2026, 14:23 IST
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