PUDUCHERRY, April 9: Puducherry Union Territory has registered a record 89.87 polling percentage for the 2026 Assembly election, a top official said here on Thursday.
The polling percentage of 89.87 per cent is the highest since 1964 when the first Assembly election was held following the merger of the territory with India after its independence from France, Chief Electoral Officer, P Jawahar said.
In 1974, the polling percentage was 85.33 and in 2006 it was 85.29 and in 2011 it was 85.57, the CEO said in a statement.As the NDA is fighting to retain power, the opposition Congress-led bloc did its best to wrest power from it in the union territory, with actor-politician Vijay’s TVK creating a lot of expectations. Actor-director Seeman’s NTK is another party that is in the race, determined to make a mark.Despite the scorching sun, people gathered in large numbers in the polling stations from 7 am onwards when voting began across the 30 Assembly constituencies.
Tension prevailed briefly at Tirukanoor village, which falls under the Mannadipet Assembly Constituency, when groups of BJP and Congress workers clashed at a polling booth, and police baton-charged and dispersed them.
Among the important contestants are the AINRC leader and Chief Minister N Rangasamy, who is facing a challenge from the Puducherry Pradesh Congress Committee president and Lok Sabha MP V Vaithilingam in the Thattanchavady constituency.The CM is also contesting from the Mangalam seat. Leader of opposition in the outgoing Assembly, DMK’s R Siva, is fighting from Villianur constituency, where M Ravikumar of AINRC is one of his rivals in the multi-cornered contest.
Puducherry Home Minister A Namassivayam (BJP) is seeking reelection from Mannadipet constituency, where T P R Selvam, former Deputy Speaker of Puducherry Assembly, is contesting on the Congress ticket. (PTI)
