HomeTop StoryPuducherry Assembly election results 2026 LIVE: Ruling AINRC leads in early trends as CM Rangasamy eyes another term

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May 4, 2026

Puducherry Assembly election results 2026 LIVE: Ruling AINRC leads in early trends as CM Rangasamy eyes another term

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Six counting centres have been set up across the Union Territory; Chief Electoral Officer says elaborate arrangements have been made for counting of votes

Updated – May 04, 2026 10:06 am IST

Counting of votes begins in Puducherry on May 4, 2026, across six counting centres for 30 Assembly constituencies.

The battle for Puducherry enters its final stage with the counting of votes on Monday (May 4, 2026). In Puducherry, six counting centres have been set up across the Union Territory that encompasses 30 Assembly constituencies. The constituencies are spread over Puducherry (23), Karaikal (five), Mahe (one) and Yanam (one).

Preparations are complete in all six counting centres spread across the four regions of Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam. Election officials, some of the candidates, polling agents of candidates and political parties have started arriving at the counting centres from 7 a.m.

Also read: How to check election results of Assembly polls 2026? A step-by-step guide

The fate of 294 candidates, including AINRC founder and Chief Minister N. Rangasamy, who were in the fray for the April 9 polls to elect a new Legislative Assembly for Puducherry. The NDA comprising AINRC, BJP, AIADMK and LJK faces a challenge from the INDIA bloc comprising the Congress, DMK and the VCK.

Also read: Puducherry Assembly elections at a glance: past voting trends, winners and close contests

Puducherry Chief Electoral Officer P. Jawahar, on Saturday (May 4, 2026), said elaborate arrangements are in place for the counting of votes. The counting process will commence around 8 a.m. with the opening of postal ballots.

Follow the latest updates below:

WATCH | Puducherry Election Results 2026 LIVE

May 04, 2026 10:05
Puducherry Home Minister Namassivayam leads in Mannadipet
BJP candidate and Puducherry’s Home Minister A. Namassivayam is leading in Mannadipet constituency by 1,793 votes.
– Rajesh B. Nair
May 04, 2026 09:58
AINRC leads in 4 seats, Congress 2 seats in Union Territory
As counting progresses in 9 of the 30 Assembly constituencies, ruling AINRC is leading in 4 seats, Congress in 2, DMK and AIADMK in one each and one Independent (Mahe) .
AINRC founder and Chief Minister N. Rangasamy is ahead of his nearest rival V. Vaithilingam of Congress party in Thattanchavady constituency.
– Rajesh B. Nair
May 04, 2026 09:52
INC candidate leads in Lawspet
M. Vaithiyanathan from Indian National Congress takes the lead in Lawspet from AINRC’s Sivakolundhu. TVK candidate V. Saminathan trails at third place.
May 04, 2026 09:44
AIADMK candidate leads in Oupalam
AIADMK’s A. Anbalagan takes the lead in Oupalam constituency of Puducherry, followed by DMK’s Annibal Kennedy.
May 04, 2026 09:40
DMK candidate leads in Nellithope as vote count at 25% completion
V. Cartigueyane of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam is leading in Nellithope, followed by Omsakthisekhar (Independent), with a current margin of 106 votes. The count is at 25% completion, surpassing the 2021 winning margin by Richard Johnkumar (BJP) who won with 496 votes. Notably, S. Vigneshwaran from Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam secured 1,416 votes, suggesting a potential significant player in this constituency.
May 04, 2026 09:37
Potential contest in Mahe between independent cadidate, INC and BJP
In Mahe, Independent candidate A. T. Ashok Kumar takes the lead from Indian National Congress’s Ramesh Parambath by 428 votes.
Bharatiya Janata Party’s A. Dinesan received 1,288 votes, more than the current winning margin, making him a potential contender as the voting progresses.
May 04, 2026 09:27
AINRC candidate leads in Thattanchavady constituency
In Thattanchavady constituency, All India N.R. Congress (AINRC) candidate N. Rangasamy of has taken the lead from E. Vinayagam of Neyam Makkal Kazhagam, with a current margin of 1,927 votes. On the 2021 elections, Mr. Rangasamy won by a margin of 5,456 votes in the same constituency.
May 04, 2026 09:24
AINRC takes the lead from INC in Muthialpet constituency
A surprising shift has occurred in the Muthialpet constituency as Vaiyapuri Manikandan of All India N.R. Congress takes the lead from Eeram G. Rajendran of Indian National Congress with a 37-vote margin.
The count is currently at 25%.
Independent candidate M. Prabagaran received 1,200 votes so far, which exceeds the current winning margin.
May 04, 2026 08:46
Preliminary trends indicate AINRC lead
Preliminary trends indicate advantage for NDA alliance, led by AINRC in Union Territory of Puducherry. – PTI
May 04, 2026 08:35
Karaikal steps up preparations for vote count; traffic diverted on Karaikal–Tharangambadi route
Counting arrangements have begun in Karaikal, with officials stepping up preparations ahead of the vote count.
Police have diverted traffic on the Karaikal–Tharangambadi route in view of security measures at the counting centre set up at Arignar Anna Government Arts and Science College. Votes polled in all five constituencies of Karaikal district in the Union Territory of Puducherry will be counted at this centre.
– M. Nacchinarkkiniyan
May 04, 2026 08:09
Counting begins in Puducherry
Counting of postal ballots has been initiated in all counting centres in Puducherry. A total of 12, 936 postal ballots are being counted before moving to the next stage of opening EVMs. The incumbent AINRC regime has put up a big fight to retain power.
– Rajesh B. Nair
May 04, 2026 08:02
A step-by-step guide on how to check election results of Assembly polls 2026
Election results 2026: How to check data and check trends?
Learn how to check the 2026 Assembly election results in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, and Pondicherry with this step-by-step guide for real-time updates.
May 04, 2026 07:40
All set for counting of votes in Puducherry
The Union Territory of Puducherry is all set for the counting of votes to elect a 30-member Legislative Assembly on Monday (May 4, 2026).
Preparations are complete in all six counting centres spread across the four regions of Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam. Election officials, some of the candidates, polling agents of candidates and political parties have started arriving at the counting centres from 7 a.m.
All set for counting of votes in Puducherry
Puducherry prepares for vote counting on May 4, 2026, with over 91% voter turnout and candidates awaiting results.
May 04, 2026 07:38
Tracing Puducherry’s voting pattern in the past three electoral battles
Tracing Puducherry’s voting pattern in the past three electoral battles
Explore Puducherry’s evolving political landscape and voting patterns ahead of the crucial 2026 election.
May 04, 2026 07:06
Rangasamy, Puducherry’s longest-serving Chief Minister and ace strategist, in race for fifth term
Through the ups and downs of a political career spanning over three decades, four-time Chief Minister and All India NR Congress (AINRC) founder N. Rangasamy remains a force to reckon with in Puducherry politics, as the 75-year-old prepares to lead the National Democratic Alliance’s campaign for re-election in the April 9 Assembly polls.
Read the full story below

Rangasamy, Puducherry’s longest serving Chief Minister: political career
N. Rangasamy, Puducherry’s four-time Chief Minister, navigates political challenges while leading the National Democratic Alliance’s re-election campaign.
May 04, 2026 06:48
Puducherry Assembly elections at a glance: past voting trends, winners and close contests
Puducherry’s electoral landscape is made up of the following key players: the All India N.R. Congress (AINRC), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Congress, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), and the Left parties. This year, actor Vijay’s party Tamilga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) is set to make its electoral debut. Independent candidates also account for a large part of the total candidate pool (117 out of 291 candidates) this year.
This is how these parties have allied with each other:
Puducherry Assembly elections at a glance: past voting trends, winners and close contests
Explore Puducherry’s 2026 Assembly elections: past voting trends, candidate insights, and party alliances in a concise overview.
May 04, 2026 06:34
Voter turnout stands at 91.23%, the highest in the Union Territory’s history
The Union Territory of Puducherry has recorded a historic high voter turnout of 91.23% in the polls that concluded on Thursday (April 9, 2026) to elect a 30-member Legislative Assembly.
Officials in the Puducherry Elections Department said the votes polled on the Electronic Voting Machines were 89.87% of the total 9,50,639 electors who were mentioned in the final electoral roll for the 2026 Assembly polls.
The previous highest voter turnout of 86% was recorded in the 2006 polls. The voter turnout in some of the other Assembly elections is as follows: 2021 – 83.3%; 2016 – 85.08%; 2011 – 85.52%; 2001 – 70.1%; 1996 – 75.33%; 1991 – 67.73%; 1990 – 72.3%; 1985 – 78.39% and 1980 – 80.41%.
Read the full story below
Puducherry Assembly election 2026: Voter turnout stands at 91.23%, the highest in the Union Territory’s history
Puducherry achieves historic voter turnout of 91.23% in Assembly polls, surpassing previous records and showcasing strong electoral participation.
May 04, 2026 06:19
All set for counting; ECI promises transparency
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Sunday (May 3, 2026) said it would uphold the “highest standards of transparency, security and efficiency” during the counting of votes on Monday (May 4, 2026) for the elections to the Assemblies of Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry and the bye-elections in seven Assembly constituencies of five States.
In Puducherry, the fate of 294 candidates, including AINRC founder and Chief Minister N. Rangasamy, who were in the fray to elect the 16th Assembly, will be known on Monday (May 4, 2026) as election officials gear up for the counting of votes in centres spread across all four regions of the Union Territory. The Union Territory had registered a record voter turnout of 91.23% in the polls held on April 9 to elect a 30-member Assembly.
Though the main electoral battle was between the ruling National Democratic Alliance led by the AINRC and the INDIA bloc, the fielding of candidates, including some former legislators, by the TVK in all constituencies had made the contest in Puducherry evenly poised.
All set for counting; ECI promises transparency
ECI ensures transparent and secure vote counting as elections conclude in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Puducherry.