Puducherry Election 2026 Live Updates: 'Unstoppable surge of democracy'—Puducherry creates history with record 86.92% voter turnout

Polling is underway in Puducherry for the 2026 Assembly elections, with around 9.5 lakh voters set to decide the electoral fate of 294 candidates across 30 constituencies. Voting began at 7 am across Puducherry and its enclaves of Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam, with authorities putting in place elaborate arrangements to ensure smooth polling.Chief Electoral Officer P. Jawahar said the Union Territory has a total of 1,099 polling stations, of which 209 have been identified as vulnerable. He said 30 polling stations are being managed entirely by women staff, while 15 booths are being operated by young officers.The election is shaping up as a keen contest between the AINRC-BJP-led NDA, headed by Chief Minister N. Rangasamy, and the Congress-DMK alliance in the 33-member Puducherry Assembly. Counting of votes will take place on May 4.One of the most closely watched contests is in Thattanchavady, where Rangasamy is facing former Chief Minister V. Vaithilingam. Among the key issues in the election are the long-pending demand for statehood, rising unemployment and water contamination in Puducherry district, which accounts for 23 of the 30 Assembly seats.The emergence of Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam is also being seen as a factor that could influence the outcome in what is expected to be a tightly fought election. Leaders from both major alliances have campaigned extensively as the contest heads toward a close finish.