Puducherry Assembly Elections results highlights: After winning 12 seats, NDA to form government in the union territory

In Puducherry, the NDA comprising the NR Congress, the BJP and the AIADMK is set to form the government.

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Cong 'lost' elections but not its 'morale or resolve' to be people's voice in these tough times

The Congress on Sunday said it has "lost" elections in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry and West Bengal but has not "lost its morale or resolve" to continue to be people's voice in these tough times.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the party would deliberate on its failures and do course correction after internal deliberations.

"We have lost the election in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry and West Bengal but we have neither lost our morale nor our resolve or determination to continuously become people's voice in these times of unprecedented calamity.

"The Congress Party will definitely study the results and all the reasons diligently and we are committed to correct our mistakes and do appropriate course correction," he said. (PTI)

Official EC trends for Puducherry as of 7.15 PM

After the party's poor performance in assembly elections in five states, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said it humbly accepts the people's mandate and it will continue to fight for its values and ideals.

Official EC trends for Puducherry as of 6.30 PM

All India N RCongress candidate VAroumougame wins from Indira Nagar, defeating Congress’ candidate M. Kannan by 18531 votes.

ECI's press conference at 6 pm

DMK set to comeback in Tamil Nadu, CPI(M) to buck trend and get second term in Kerala, AINRC leads in Puducherry

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Official EC trends for Puducherry as of 5.10 pm

All India NRCongress's Chandira Priyanga won Nedungadu, defeating Congresscandidate AMarimuthu by 2,214 votes.

BJP's Johnkumar wins Nellithope, defeating DMK’s VCartigueyane by 496 votes.

BJP's A Namassivayam wins from Mannadipet constituency in Puducherry

"I am thankful to the voters for electing me as their representative. NDA will take up welfare activities for people of Puducherry and continue to work for them," he said.

NDA alliance has got 45.51 per cent vote share, while SDA has received 37.94 per cent votes as yet, as per ECI data.

Official EC trends for Puducherry as of 4.10 PM

Meanwhile, Mamata Banerjee and BJP's Suvendu Adhkari's poll battle is becoming the most-watched fight in West Bengal. Catch live updates from Bengal assembly election results here.

Victory calls

BJP'sAJohnkumar wins Kamaraj Nagar by 5,098 votes. DMK's Annibal Kennedy wins Oupalam againstAIADMK candidate A. Anbalagan by 4,780 votes, it was reported.

AINRC wins Mangalam, as candidate DjeacoumarC defeatsDMK candidate sun. Kumaravel by 2,751 votes, news reports said.

JUST IN | AINRC’s NRangasamy trails in Yanam constituency against Independent candidate Gollapalli Srinivas Ashok.

Official EC trends for Puducherry as of 2.05 pm

BJP's AJohnkumar leads from Kamaraj Nagar constituency, Congress' P. Selvanadane trails behind, as per ECI trends.

BJP's Mannadipet candidate, A Namasivayam,has won in Puducherry. In Uppalam, DMK candidate Anipal has won, reports NDTV.

Puducherry records 1,360 new virus cases, 16 deaths

The Union Territory of Puducherry registered 1,360 new cases of Covid-19 and 16 deaths during the last 24 hours ending 10 AM on Sunday. With this, the overall tally of cases is 61,361 and the death toll 833, said the Department of Health and Family Welfare. There were 10,620 active cases including 1,842 patients in hospitals and 8,778 in home isolation, the director of the department S Mohan Kumar said.

NDA has 46.28 per cent vote share in the UT, while UPA has received 38.87 per cent votes, according to ECI data.

In Puducherry, the NRC+ alliance with AIADMK and BJP is leading in 11 seats. The Congress allianceis leading in 6. The NRC+ has not crossed the majority-mark yet. Leads are in only for 17 of the 30 seats.

Official EC trends for Puducherry as of 12.15 AM

For the Congress, the exit polls predicted that it may fall short in Assam and Kerala and lose in Puducherry to the opposition alliance of AINRC-BJP-AIADMK.

NDA leads in 9 seats in Puducherry; SDA in 3

The AINRC-led NDA was leading in 9 seats while the Congress-headed alliance was ahead in three segments after first round of counting of votes polled in April 6 elections, officials said.

According to trends available till 10.30 am, AINRC chief N Rangasamy was leading in his constituency. The NDA-led front comprises the AINRC, AIADMK and BJP. There are 30 Assembly constituencies spread over Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam regions.

Key battle: Oupalam constituency

DMK's Anibal Kennedy has a lead of around 4,000 votes over AIADMK candidate A. Anbalagan in the Oupalam constituency.

Anbalagan is a four-time legislator and AIADMK secretary (East). If he wins this seat, he will be one of the few politicians in the UT to have won five elections back-to-back from the same seat.

Know more about the constituency

Early trends suggest NDA leading in 11 seats, INC+ leading in 5.

BJP is leading in Kamaraj Nagar seat, Congress ahead in Mahe, as per ECI data.

Official EC trends for Puducherry as of 9.40 AM

The chief contestants in the poll are the AINRC leader N Rangasamy heading the NDA in which the AINRC, AIADMK and BJPare the constituents.

On the other side, the Congress-led Secular Democratic Alliance (SDA) comprises the Congress, DMK, VCK and CPI.

Former Congress Ministers M O H F Shah Jahan, M Kandasamy and R Kamalakannan are the chief contestants on behalf of SDA. Former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader V Narayanasamy opted out of poll battle.

AINRC leader and former Puducherry CMNRangaswamy leadingin Thattanchavady, as per early trends.

Chief Electoral Officer Shurbir Singh told P T I that more than 17,300 postal ballots have been received in the whole of Union Territory.

The election authorities banned victory processions and also distribution of sweets in view of the necessity to curb congestion and also prevent possible spread of pandemic.

As many as 324 candidates jumped into poll fray and they included party-sponsored nominees and Independents.

Counting centres in the UT

There are three counting centres in Puducherry region -Motilal Nehru Government Polytechnic college, the Women`s polytechnic college and the Government Tagore Arts and Science college (all in neighbouring Lawspet)-relating to the 23 segments in Puducherry.

Counting of votes would take place simultaneously in Karaikal (having five constituencies) and Mahe and Yanam regions having one segment each.

The union territory saw high-profile campaigning from both Congress and BJP this time, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi holding rallies and addressing large gatherings.

Early leads show both NDA and Congress leading in 3 seats each.

The Congress has decided not to participate in election debates on television today when results for assembly polls for five states are out.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said in view of the serious coronavirus situation in the country, the party's spokespersons will not participate on the TV debates after poll results are out.

Puducherry elections results in 2016

Congress had won 15 seats in the previous elections held in 2016, All India NR Congress won eight seats, AIADMK won four seats and two DMK candidates won. BJP bagged none.

Counting for Puducherry Assembly elections has begun at all centres.

Polling for the 30 assembly seats in Puducherry was held on April 6. Of the 30 seats, five are reserved for the Scheduled Caste candidates. A total of 10,04,507 voters exercised their franchise to decide the fate of 324 candidates in the union territory.

What do exit polls say?

All major exit polls have predicted a victory for the NDA in the union territory. The BJP-led alliance is expected to secure more than 18 of the 30-member Assembly.

Election Commission's Covid rules

The EC has made many arrangements to follow Covid protocols during counting. This includesincreasing the number of counting halls, limiting the number of officials inside, and making vaccination certificates or negative tests mandatory for entry. Victory rallies after the results are announced are also banned.

The union territory is under President's Rule currently due to political drama that ensued in January, when the Congress government lost power in the House and Chief Minister V Narayansamy had to resign.

The contest for the 30-member Puducherry Assembly is majorly between Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) with DMK, CPI, VCK and one Independent candidate andBJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) with All India N.R. Congress and AIADMK.

Visuals outside a counting centre in lawspet

Good morning, readers! Welcome to the livecoverage of Puducherry Election results. Stay tuned for live updates from the counting.