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.