AINRC powers NDA to victory in Puducherry

• The AINRC-led NDA emerged victorious in the Puducherry Assembly elections and it was all set to form a government for a successive term.

• Puducherry, a  Union Territory located about 160 km from Chennai, borders Tamil Nadu districts Cuddalore and Villupuram on either side.

• Elections for 30 seats were held on April 9. The territorial assembly also has three nominated members to the House.

• A total of 254 candidates contested across 30 constituencies. 

• All India NR Congress (AINRC) leader and Chief Minister N. Rangasamy won from both the seats that he contested — Thattanchavady and Mangalam — even as the party won 12 seats.

• NDA constituent BJP won from four seats while other coalition members — AIADMK and Latchiya Jananayaka Katchi (LJK) — won from one seat each. 

• The CM defeated Neyam Makkal Kazhagam leader E. Vinayagam by 4,441 votes in Thattanchavady. Rangasamy emerged victorious in Managalam too, defeating DMK’s S.S. Rangan by 7,050 votes.

• He may now have to vacate one of the seats.

• Rangasamy became the CM for the first time in 2001 after the Congress party won the Assembly elections. 

• He got a second term in 2006 but resigned in 2008.

• He floated his All India NR Congress in 2011 and formed the government. 

• Rangasamy became opposition leader in 2016.

• He was sworn in as CM for a fourth time IN 2021.