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.Also Read | Puducherry Election Results 2026: Full list of winners and losers “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.

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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.