The battle for the 30-member Puducherry Legislative Assembly reaches its climax on Monday, May 4, 2026. Following a historic polling day on April 9, where the Union Territory shattered all previous records with a 91.23% overall voter turnout (including postal ballots), the counting of votes will begin at 8:00 AM.
While the ruling AINRC-BJP National Democratic Alliance (NDA) seeks to retain power, the Congress-DMK Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) is fighting to reclaim its lost bastion. However, the true wildcard in this election is the “Vijay Factor,” with the TVK making a strong push among first-time and younger voters.
Exit Poll Projections: Who Holds the Edge?
The exit polls released on April 29 suggest a slight advantage for the incumbent government, but the margins are razor-thin:
- People’s Pulse: Projects the NDA to win 16–19 seats, just crossing the majority mark of 16.
- Axis My India: Indicates a fragmented mandate, with the NDA at 40% vote share, followed by SPA at 30%, and TVK+ emerging as a significant third force at 17%.
- Trend Note: TVK is estimated to have captured over 50% of the youth vote (ages 18–29), which could lead to major upsets in urban constituencies.
High-Profile Constituencies & Key Candidates
Track these critical battles as the trends start coming in:
- Thattanchavady: Chief Minister N. Rangasamy (AINRC) faces a high-stakes challenge from V. Vaithilingam (INC).
- Mangalam: A second seat contested by N. Rangasamy.
- Villianur: Opposition Leader R. Siva (DMK) vs. Ravikumar (AINRC).
- Mannadipet: A. Namassivayam (BJP) in a three-way fight with TVK’s K. Bharathithasan.
- Karaikal North: P.R.N. Thirumurugan (AINRC).
Live Results Dashboard (Updated Real-Time)
| Alliance / Party | Leading | Won | Seats (30) |
| NDA (AINRC/BJP/AIADMK) | [LIVE] | [LIVE] | — |
| SPA (INC/DMK/VCK) | [LIVE] | [LIVE] | — |
| TVK (Vijay) | [LIVE] | [LIVE] | — |
| Others/Independents | [LIVE] | [LIVE] | — |
Majority Mark: 16 Seats (30 Elected + 3 Nominated)
What to Expect on Counting Day?
Counting will take place across designated centers in Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe, and Yanam.
- 8:00 AM: Postal ballot counting begins (over 13,000 ballots).
- 8:30 AM: EVM counting commences.
- 10:30 AM: First clear trends for the 30 seats.
- 2:00 PM: Final winner list for most constituencies expected.
