Puducherry: Assembly elections
This is a collection of articles archived for the excellence of their content. |
Contents |
2011
Graphic courtesy: The Times of India, April 7, 2016
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Puducherry, assembly polls and voting in 2011
2016
Graphic courtesy: The Times of India, May 20, 2016
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Puducherry, assembly elections, 2016
2021
AINRC -NDA wins
Bosco Dominique , May 3, 2021: The Times of India
From: Bosco Dominique , May 3, 2021: The Times of India
All India NR Congress (AINRC) founder and two-time CM N Rangasamy, who had never lost an election barring his maiden one in 1990, had to swallow a bitter pill on Sunday. He lost the Yanam seat to a novice — 28-yearold independent G S Ashok, backed by Congress — by less than 1,000 votes. But Rangasamy can take pride in dethroning Congress from its stronghold as the NDA led by his party emerged the single largest party. Rangasamy, who contested from two seats, won Thattanchavady, defeating K Sethu (CPI) by 5,456 votes.
The results, declared in 27 of the total 30 seats, indicated the alliance will form the next government in Puducherry. The NDA bagged 15 of the 27 seats, needing 2 more for a simple majority, while Congressled-Secular Progressive Front got just 7. The Congress rout came after the exodus of senior leaders from the party, the anti-incumbency wave against the last government, its failure to fulfil poll promises and strained ties with allies like DMK. Five independents won, four of them AINRC supporters who’re likely to back the party.
Rangasamy had gone into a self-imposed exile after his party, which contested the 2016 assembly polls alone, lost to Congress. It also lost the 2019 parliamentary polls and two by-polls to Congress and one to DMK. But Rangasamy’s ‘wait and watch’ strategy worked. BJP, his one-time party Congress and DMK all started wooing him. He joined NDA when asked to lead the alliance, and when BJP was tightlipped on who’d be CM, declared himself the nominee. He asked his men to contest as independents from seats where his allies had nominees. The four independents who have won give him leverage; he need not depend on his allies to stay in power.
2026
An overview
Bosco.Dominique, May 4, 2026: The Times of India
Puducherry : A fragmented opposition, All India NR Congress (AINRC) founder and chief minister N Rangasamy’s charisma and his govt’s freebies ensured NDA retained office inPuducherry.
Opposition parties failed to present a unified front against the AINRC-BJPAIADMK-LJK combine. Congress fielded candidates in five constituencies allotted to DMK, causing confusion among functionaries, cadres and voters.
NDA won 18 seats (AINRC-12, BJP-4, AIADMK-1, LJK-1), crossing the 16-seat majority mark in the 30-member House. The INDIA bloc won six (DMK-5, Congress-1), while Independents secured three. Rangasamy, who won both the seats he contested, is set to become CM for a record fifth time. “The victory is because of Rangasamy’s ‘Makkal mudalvar’ (people’s chief minister) appeal. He is easily accessible, and has an image of a down-to-earth person. His victory in Thattanchavady with an increased margin of 4,441 votes underscores his personal popularity,” said political commentator K Murugan. Welfare schemes and freebies — Rs 2,500 monthly aid to women heads, free grain, and enhanced deposits under the Girl Child Protection Scheme — also contributed.
The INDIA bloc’s internal friction, disoriented campaign and seat-sharing confusion blunted anti-incumbency; focus now shifts to cabinet formation, with BJP likely to seek a deputy CM post.
