The battle for the 30-seat Puducherry Assembly is officially heating up. Counting commenced at 8:00 AM across six designated centres, and early EVM trends show the incumbent All India N.R. Congress (AINRC) pulling ahead in the race to retain power.
According to the latest Election Commission updates, Chief Minister N. Rangasamy's AINRC is leading in 7 constituencies, setting a strong pace against the opposition. The INDIA bloc, comprising the Congress (INC) and the DMK, is fighting hard to close the gap, with both parties currently leading in 2 seats each.
Adding an unpredictable twist to the morning tally, Independent candidates are putting up a massive fight, securing early leads in 3 constituencies. The BJP is also holding steady with leads in 2 seats.
Elections for the Union Territory were held on April 9. The opposition INDIA bloc had shown fierce determination to unseat the Rangasamy-led government despite pre-poll internal friction. With the magic number set at 16 for a simple majority, the strong early performance of Independents suggests they could become vital power brokers if the margins tighten as the day progresses.
Stay tuned as the later EVM rounds decide the final mandate for the Union Territory.
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