The All India N R Congress-led National Democratic Alliance was headed towards forming the next government in Puducherry.
The spate of defections of several heavyweights that triggered the fall of the Narayanasamy-led Government before completing term, is now scorching the electoral prospects of the Congress alliance with many former associates notching up crucial wins for the rival front as early results of the April 6 elections came in on Sunday.
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Here are the latest updates from Puducherry.
When votes are counted for 19 of the total 30 Assembly seats in the Union Territory, NDA has won 11 (AINRC 8 and BJP 3), DMK 2 and Congress 2 . While DMK is leading in 1, Independents are leading in 3 seats. NDA needs five more seats to get a absolute majority to form the next government in the Union Territory.
In a setback for BJP in Puducherry, party president V. Saminathan lost to Congress candidate M. Vaidianathan by a margin of 5701 votes from Lawspet constituency.
Why delay in counting?
Puducherry is usually the first Union Territory to declare its results given the fact that it has just 30 seats. However, this time the counting has been delayed.
This is because only eight seats are being counted at a time. The reason? COVID-19.
As many as 100 polling officials have been infected with COVID-19 in the last few days. Hit by staff crunch, counting is being held for eight seats at a time.
AINRC candidate Chandira Priyanga has retained the Nedungadu (SC) seat defeating A. Marimuthu of the Congress by a comfortable margin of 2,214 votes.
Puducherry PCC chief A.V. Subramanian has lost in Karaikal North to rival and sitting AINRC legislator PRN Thirumurugan by a narrow margin of 135 votes.
Two former Congress leaders hand over win to BJP
Former Congress legislator A. John Kumar who joined BJP ahead of the elections has won from Kamaraj Nagar constituency by polling over 7000 votes more than his former party colleague M.O.H.F. Shahjahan.
His son Richards has won from Nelliithope.
BJP candidate A Namasivayam receives victory certificate in Mannadipattu constituency in Puducherry on May 2, 2021.
A Namassivayam, who quit Congress and contested on BJP ticket from Mannadipet constituency won the seat defeating DMK's A K Kumar by a margin of over 2000 votes.
Rangasamy continues to trail in Yanam
Chief ministerial candidate N. Rangasamy continues to trail in Yanam. Congress-backed independent candidate Gollapalli Srinivas Ashok is leading here.
Yanam was a Congress bastion. Former Health Minister Malladi Krishna Rao had won from here several times. One day, he quit the party and backed Mr. Rangasamy. He also urged the latter to contest in Yanam.
Mr. Ashok was with BJP. When AINRC forged an alliance with the BJP, it was evident that Mr. Ashok could not be the candidate, so he quit the party and decided to contest as an independent. The Congress decided not to field a candidate here and extend its support to Mr. Ashok.
First win for AINRC
AINRC scored its first win with its candidate S. Ramesh trouncing P. Selvanadane of the Congress by a whopping margin of 12,246 votes in Kadirgamam.
Ayyanar of AINRC had won from here in 2016.
Congress' Ramesh Parambath wins Mahe
Congress candidate Ramesh Parambath has won the Mahe seat defeating CPI (M) backed Independent Haridas by a margin of 301 votes.
BJP's John Kumar wins Kamaraj Nagar seat
A. John Kumar of the BJP has won Kamaraj Nagar defeating his rival MOHF Shahjahan of the Congress by a margin of 7,229 votes.
The relatively new constituency of Kamaraj Nagar, largely comprising middle-class voters, is beset by civic issues, specifically flooding during rain, that has not been addressed by successive governments.
Mr. Kumar had won by the highest margin in 2016 elections as the Congress' candidate in Nellithope. He had crushed AIADMK's Om Sakthi Sekar by a margin of over 12,000 votes.
Mr. Kumar was considered one of the architects of the downfall of the Narayanasamy-led Congress government in February.
Video | Crowds at counting centres cause worry
The counting of votes for the 822 Assembly seats spread across West Bengal , Tamil Nadu , Assam , Kerala and Puducherry is underway.
At a time when the country is facing a surge in COVID-19 the counting centres can also become superspreaders. The ECI had issued strict guidelines to be followed during the process of counting votes. 2,364 counting halls have been set up following the COVID-19 protocols.
Despite this, several counting centres remained crowded throughout the counting process. Watch here .
John Kumar expands lead in Kamraj Nagar
In the battle for Kamaraj Nagar, BJP’S A. John Kumar, has expanded his lead to over 5,000 votes over opponent MOHF Shahjahan of the Congress.
John Kumar had won by the highest margin in 2016 elections as the Congress' candidate in Nellithope. He had crushed AIADMK's Om Sakthi Sekar by a margin of over 12,000 votes.
Mr. Kumar was considered one of the architects of the downfall of the Narayanasamy-led Congress government in February.
N. Rangasamy, leading in round one, trails his Independent rival
Former Chief Minister and AIl India N R Congress chief N. Rangasamy is trailing his Independent rival Ashok by over 3,000 votes in Yanam constituency. Mr. Rangasamy is contesting a second seat from Thattanchavady in Puducherry region.
He was leading by 140 votes in Yanam constituency in the first round of counting.
Former Minister Kandasamy trailing
Former Minister and sitting MLA M. Kandasamy of the Congress is trailing his AINRC rival U. Lakshmikandan by over 2,500 votes in the Embalam (SC) constituency at this stage of counting.
When Mr. Kandasamy was the Social Welfare Minister under the Narayanasamy government, he had, in January, undertaken a day-night agitation seeking an audience with Lt. Governor Kiran Bedi to resolve around 15 issues concerning his ministry.
'Clear picture by 3 p.m.'
The results of all four rounds of counting for the eight constituencies would be available by 1 p.m.
After completion of eight constituencies, votes polled for another eight constituencies would be taken up. The remaining seven of the total 23 in Puducherry region would be taken up for counting by 6 p.m, an official told The Hindu .
A clear picture of the Assembly results would be known by around 3 p.m, said the official.
- Special Correspondent
Former CM Rangasamy leading in Yanam
Former Chief Minister and AINRC chief N. Rangasamy was leading by 140 votes in Yanam constituency in the first round of counting.
The All India N.R. Congress founder is the second non-Telugu speaking leader, after former Chief Minister P. Shanmugham, from Puducherry to contest in an Assembly election from the enclave of Yanam.
He is also contesting from Thattachavady constituency, which he represented from 1991 to 2011.
Counting in progress in five Karaikal constituencies
Counting of votes for two of the five constituencies in Karaikal region is also in progress.
AINRC candidate Chandrapriyanga was leading by 1,500 votes in Nedungadu constituency in the first round. She is pitted against Congress’ A. Marimuthu.
John Kumar, considered the architect of downfall of Congress govt., leading
Former Congress legislator A. John Kumar who joined BJP ahead of the elections was leading by 1,716 votes in Kamaraj Nagar constituency.
Former Minister M.O.H.F. Shahjahan is taking on sitting legislator A. John Kumar, who switched from the Congress to the BJP in Kamaraj Nagar, in one of the keenly watched battles.
The relatively new constituency of Kamaraj Nagar, largely comprising middle-class voters, is beset by civic issues, specifically flooding during rain, that has not been addressed by successive governments.
The Congress had taken the battle as a matter of prestige as they considered Mr. Kumar one of the architects of the downfall of its government in February, cemented with his decision of shifting from Congress to BJP just before the election.
Mr. Kumar’s son Richard who is contesting on a BJP ticket was leading by around 300 votes in Nellithope constituency.
Anibal Kennedy establishes clear lead over Anbalagan
DMK candidate Anibal Kennedy talking to reporters after establishing a clear lead of 4,000 votes over AIADMK nominee Anbalagan in Oupalam constituency in Puducherry on May 2, 2021.
DMK candidate Anibal Kennedy talking to reporters after establishing a clear lead of 4,000 votes over AIADMK nominee Anbalagan in Oupalam constituency in Puducherry on May 2, 2021.
DMK candidate Anibal Kennedy has established a clear lead of 4,000 votes over AIADMK candidate A. Anbalagan in the Oupalam constituency.
It is one of the crucial electoral battles for four-time legislator and AIADMK secretary (East) A. Anbalagan . A win for the AIADMK leader this time would mean he would be in the league of select political leaders in the Union Territory who have consecutively won five elections from the same constituency.
Among the other leaders, who retained the same Assembly segment for years are the present Member of Parliament V. Vaithilingam and former Ministers Malladi Krishna Rao and E. Valsaraj.
Counting of votes in ongoing in Puducherry. This constituency-wise map shows the rend as on 10 a.m.
Track the constituency-wise counting trends here .
Congress candidate, formerly with AINRC, leading in Lawspet
Congress candidate Vaidiyanathan was leading by over 1,000 votes in Lawspet constituency. He had won the Lawspet constituency by contesting on an AINRC ticket in 2011 elections. After he was denied ticket by the party in the 2016 elections, Mr. Vaidyanathan had contested from the constituency as an Independent but had failed to retain the seat.
All India N R Congress candidate Theni Jayakumar leads by 620 votes in Mangalam constituency.
A. Namassivayam leading in Mannadipet
Former Congress Minister A. Namassivayam who joined BJP before the Assembly polls is leading by 1,700 votes in Mannadipet constituency. A former president of Puducherry Congress, he is among the Congress MLAs who switched to BJP, which led to the collapse of Narayanaswamy government.
Congress leading in Mahe
Congress candidate Ramesh Parambath is leading by 146 votes after the end of first round of counting in Mahe Assembly constituency.
After completion of first round of votes in Mahe, Congress candidate Ramesh Parambath was leading by 146 votes.
There was some confusion regarding Mr. Parambath's nomination , in March, when the election website had shown his nomination as rejected although his primary nomination affidavit had been accepted. Mahe Returning Officer Shivraj Meena had issued a press note stating that Mr. Parambath had filed two nomination papers and both the nomination papers were found in order and accepted after scrutiny.
Three counting centres in Puducherry
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.
- PTI
Initial trends show BJP leading
After counting of postal votes, the first round of counting of votes polled in eight of the 23 Assembly segments in Puducherry regions was taken around 9 a.m.
Initial trends available show BJP candidates were leading in three while All India N. R Congress, DMK and Congress were ahead in one seat each.
- Special Correspondent
More than 17,300 postal ballots received
Counting staff show postal ballots to agents of candidates in the Uppalam constituency in Puducherry on May 2, 2021.
Chief Electoral Officer Shurbir Singh said that more than 17,300 postal ballots have been received in the whole of Union Territory.
- PTI
Counting of votes begins
Counting of votes for the 30 Assembly constituencies in Puducherry commenced at around 8. 30 a.m at a slow pace due to COVID-19 restrictions in place at the counting centres at Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam regions of the Union Territory.
A spokesman of the Election Department here told PTI that postal ballots were taken up first for counting. This would be followed by counting of votes recorded in Electronic voting machines (EVMs) at 8.30 a.m.
There are 30 Assembly constituencies spread over Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam regions.
- PTI , Special Correspondent
Kiran Bedi was removed as Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry on February 16, 2021. Telangana Governor Tamilsai Soundararajan was given additional charge of the Union Territory. The removal of Kiran Bedi as Puducherry Lt. Governor brought to an end a tumultuous phase of confrontation between the Raj Nivas and the Congress government that played out variously as power tussles, courtroom battles, tangles over policy and a slow burn of several key schemes.
Take a look at the chart showing the overall turnout (in %) in the past 10 elections in Puducherry, coloured according to winning coalition.
