Puducherry CM N Rangasamy

New Delhi: The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is poised to return to power in Puducherry and become the first government in the Union Territory to hold re-elections since the Congress achieved the feat in 2006.Counting of votes for the April 9 assembly election took place on Monday, recording 89.87% turnout, the highest in the former French colony since its merger with India in 1964.The NDA has won or is leading in 18 of the 30 constituencies, two above the majority mark. Chief Minister N RangasamyAll India NR Congress (AINRC) has secured 10 seats and is leading on two seats. Among its allies, the BJP has won four seats, while one candidate each from AIADMK and Lachia Jananagaya Katchi (LJK) also emerged victorious.Under the alliance’s seat-sharing arrangement, the AINRC contested 16 constituencies, while the BJP got 14 constituencies, of which it allotted two seats each to the AIADMK and LJK.

What does this victory mean for Rangasamy and AINRC?

This victory has strengthened Rangasamy’s position as the tallest leader of Puducherry. Already the longest serving Chief Minister, he is set to return for a second consecutive term at the helm of the NDA government and his fifth term overall. He won both his constituencies, Thattanchavady and Mangalam.This will also strengthen his position within the NDA, where cracks had emerged before the elections over issues like BJP’s inclusion of LJK in the alliance. LJK was founded by businessman José Charles Martín, son of “Lottery King” Santiago Martín.Another cause of friction was the BJP-led Center not accepting the popular demand for granting statehood to Puducherry. The territory’s Union Territory status means that the Lieutenant Governor – representing the President of India – can dismiss or bypass the elected government. Becoming a key partner will enable Rangasamy to press for the issue more vocally.This victory will also help AINRC to avoid a Bihar-like situation in Puducherry. In the Bihar Assembly elections held in November last year, BJP emerged as the largest party for the first time, with ally JDU coming in second place. Despite this, after leading the state for more than two decades, JD(U) supremo Nitish Kumar returned as chief minister for his 10th term.However, earlier this month, Kumar moved to the Rajya Sabha, paving the way for the BJP to secure its first chief minister in the state, and was succeeded by Samrat Choudhary to the top post.

Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) candidate Srinath won decisively over Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader P. Geetha Jeevan by a margin of 37,731 votes. Srinath received 1,00,536 votes, while Geeta Jeevan received 62,805 votes, leading to a clear victory for TVK in the contest.Thoothukudi, a major port city in southern Tamil NaduStrong competition has traditionally been seen between the AIADMK and the DMK. While earlier there was AIADMK influence, in recent elections the constituency has shifted towards DMK. In the 2021 assembly elections, DMK’s P Geetha Jeevan won by 92,314 votes, defeating AIADMK’s ST Chellapandian by a margin of 50,310 votes. In the 2016 assembly elections, DMK’s P Geetha Jeevan won with 88,045 votes, defeating AIADMK’s ST Chellapandian by 20,908 votes. In the 2011 assembly election, ST Chellapandian of the AIADMK won the seat with 89,010 votes, defeating DMK’s P Geeta Jeevan by 26,193 votes. Overall, since the 2011 election cycle the DMK has won the seat twice while the AIADMK has won it once. The ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) led by Chief Minister MK Stalin will face an alliance led by the opposition All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and a revived BJP in the 234-seat assembly elections in Tamil Nadu. The campaign focuses on issues such as welfare schemes, law and order and the broader debate between Dravidian political identity and national unity narratives. While the DMK government has been highlighting its record on industrial development and social justice, the opposition has targeted it over corruption allegations and concerns over power shortage.

New Delhi: As the results became clear on Monday, the 2026 assembly elections are delivering a political shock that some people did not entirely expect. From the cinematic upheaval in Tamil Nadu to the decisive saffron surge in West Bengal, the decision has been a headline-grabbing shock and destabilizing long-held assumptions about who holds power and how.What is emerging is a moment of churn, where strong players are on the backfoot, new players are making their way in and the balance between national parties and regional forces is being tested in real time.Here are 10 key takeaways assembly election results 2026: :1. Blockbuster debut of Thalapathy VijayVijay’s Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam, leading on more than 118 seats, has ended the decades-old DMK-AIADMK dominance that has defined Tamil Nadu politics for more than 50 years. This isn’t just a strong start, it marks a structural shift, with voters showing a willingness to move beyond legacy parties. The state now appears to be headed towards a multi-polar contest, where no single formation can take the loyalty of voters for granted.2. BJP broke into the fort of BengalBharatiya Janata Party has crossed the majority mark in West Bengal for the first time and Mamata Banerjee’s long tenure has come to an end. This is more than a state-level victory, it represents a strategic success in eastern India. After years of failure, the BJP has managed to translate organizational expansion and narrative recalibration into a decisive mandate.3. Kerala is back on its rotation cycleThe Congress-led UDF under VD Satheesan is set to form the government, thwarting the Left’s third consecutive bid. The result reinforces the long-standing pattern of alternative power in Kerala, showing that voters continue to prefer periodic changes rather than continuity, even when incumbents rule.4. Assam shows that pro-incumbency wave can workHimanta Biswa Sarma has led BJP to victory for the third consecutive time underlining the change in voter behaviour. Instead of a general anti-incumbency wave, the results suggest that delivery on infrastructure, welfare schemes and administrative visibility could create a pro-incumbency wave, turning governance into a political asset rather than a liability.5. DMK had to bear the brunt of TVK’s riseThe ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam appears to have been the biggest loser of the TVK’s rise, losing its grip in several key areas, including urban areas. The decision reflected a mix of anti-incumbency, fatigue with dynastic politics and an appeal for a new alternative, all of which created space for Vijay’s rise.6. BJP’s best performance so far in KeralaEven where it is not in the race for power, the BJP has made steady gains in the south. In Kerala it is headed for its best ever performance with 3 seats. It had recently won the Thiruvananthapuram civic elections. These gains, though modest, point to a long-term strategy of gradual expansion in areas where the party has traditionally struggled.8. AIADMK saved from disruptionDespite the scale of the TVK boom, Edappadi K Palaniswami has managed to maintain a mainstay, especially in the western belt. Although the party is no longer the primary pole it used to be, its survival ensures that Tamil Nadu politics will remain competitive, with multiple players shaping future contests.9. Congress got strategic reliefWith a clear victory in Kerala and signs of resilience in parts of Assam, the Congress has gained some political ground. Although challenges remain, the results provide organizational momentum to the party and reinforce its role as a major opposition force at the national level.10. A weak oppositionThe results of the 2026 assembly elections have greatly weakened the opposition. In key states, prominent regional leaders, who once practiced anti-BJP politics, have either lost ground or are on the verge of losing power. The setback for Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal and the fall of MK Stalin in Tamil Nadu have removed the BJP’s two most influential regional rivals. In Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan’s exit has further reduced the opposition’s presence in power.This churning has a wide-ranging impact. The India Bloc, already an uneasy alliance of regional powers, now faces a leadership vacuum as its strongest state-level pillars weaken or disappear. Also, Congress benefits from a possible victory in Kerala, which also strengthens its power in the opposition group.

BJP’s Utpal Bora was victorious in the election, he got a total of 96582 votes. He defeated Congress candidate Shankar Jyoti Kutum by a decisive margin of 52722 votes.In Gohpur constituency, BJP candidate Utpal Bora won in a close contest against Congress’ Shankar Jyoti Kutum.Statewide, exit polls are indicating a strong performance for the BJP-led government, suggesting that Himanta Biswa Sarma is likely to remain the chief minister. Voting was recorded on all 126 seats in Assam on April 9, with over 85% turnout, one of the highest in recent times.Enthusiasm among voters was visible in rural and urban areas, pointing to broad-based electoral participation.Gohpur is one of the 126 assembly constituencies of Assam. It is a general category seat located in Sonitpur district and is one of the nine assembly constituencies under the Tezpur Lok Sabha constituency.In the 2021 Assam Assembly election, there were 2,04,613 registered voters in the constituency, out of which 1,63,163 valid votes were cast. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Utpal Bora won the seat with 93,224 votes.Congress candidate Ripun Bora finished second with 63,930 votes, losing by a margin of 29,294 votes.In the 2016 assembly election, Gohpur had 1,71,284 voters, with 1,46,618 valid votes recorded.BJP’s Utpal Bora won with 85,424 votes, defeating Congress candidate Monica Bora, who secured 56,489 votes.

Mamata Banerjee

New Delhi: Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee Released a video message on Monday to charge TMCAs early trends show the BJP leading across the state, counting agents say there is “no need to be disheartened” as only two to three rounds of counting have been completed, while more than 15 rounds are still pending.Instructing party candidates and counting agents not to leave the counting centres, Mamata said her party will win after sunset and “there is no need for anyone to fear”.