Puducherry (Pondicherry) Elections 2026 Voting Live Updates: Voting has started in the Union Territory of Puducherry. Voting started at 7 am and will end at 6 pm. The Election Commission has set 1,099 polling stations in the UT for over 9.5 lakh voters. There are 30 seats in the legislative assembly of the UT, with 294 candidates contesting the 2026 assembly elections. EC has made special arrangements for first-time voters, differently abled people, and senior citizens. These include the arrangement of wheelchairs, volunteers, Braille ballots, and digital help with the Saksham mobile application.
The UT is currently governed by the NDA alliance, comprising the NR Congress, the BJP, AIADMK, and LJK party. The opposition is comprised of Congress and DMK. The AINRC has fielded Chief Minister N. Rangasamy from Thattanchavady and Mangalam. He is contesting against Congress MP V Vaithilingam, who is also a former CM of the Union Territory. Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), the party headed by actor-turned-politician Vijay, is also participating in the Puducherry elections.
Puducherry Assembly Election Voting Date: April 9, 2026
Puducherry Assembly Election Voting Time: 7:00 am – 6:00 pm
Puducherry Assembly Election Result Date: 4th May 2026
Puducherry Assembly Election: Here’s How You Can Find Your Polling Booth
To find your polling booth, go to official election websites or voter service portals.
Find the electoral roll on these sites and search for your name.
Now use the booth locator on the election websites.
You can verify your details by using your voting ID number written your voting Id.
Puducherry Assembly Election: Documents Needed For Voting
The primary document needed by the ECI to identify the voters is the ‘Voter Identification Card’, also known as EPIC. There are another 11 documents that ECI accepts to identify the voters while voting. These include
Aadhaar Card, Passport, PAN, Passbooks with photos, Pension card, MGNREGA Job Card, Service Identity Card, Smart Card, Health Insurance Smart Card, and Official ID for MPs/MLAs/MLCs
FAQs
Q1: Who is the chief minister of Puducherry?
Ans: N. Rangasamy
Q2: When will the Puducherry Assembly Election result be declared?
Ans: 4th May 2026
Q3: What is the number of assembly seats in Puducherry?
Ans: 30 seats
Q4: Which party is currently governing the Union Territory of Puducherry?
Ans: NDA alliance comprising AINRC–BJP.
Q5: How many voters are voting for the Puducherry Assembly elections 2026?
Ans: 9.5 lakh voters.
The Union Territory of Puducherry recorded an estimated voter turnout of 17.41 per cent by 9 AM as polling continued across constituencies in the ongoing Assembly elections. Voting began in the morning at 7 am amid security arrangements at polling stations.
Congress leader and former Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy cast his vote early in the morning at a polling booth on Mission Street as voting began for the Puducherry Assembly Elections 2026.
After casting his ballot, Narayanasamy said the trend of the election would become clear later in the day but expressed confidence about his alliance’s prospects. He added that feedback from party candidates and workers across constituencies suggested a positive situation for the INDIA alliance.
During the Puducherry Assembly Elections 2026, an election flying squad confiscated gift tokens worth ₹1,500 each that were allegedly being prepared for distribution to voters near a polling booth in Kuruvinatham village of the Bahour Assembly constituency on April 9, 2026.
Officials said the tokens were seized during routine surveillance as authorities intensified monitoring to prevent inducements and ensure free and fair polling in the Union Territory.
Puducherry recorded a voter turnout of 82.2% in the 2021 Assembly elections, reflecting strong public participation in the Union Territory’s electoral process.
Several high-profile contests are drawing attention this time. AINRC chief and Chief Minister N. Rangasamy is up against Puducherry Pradesh Congress Committee president and Lok Sabha MP V. Vaithilingam in the Thattanchavady constituency, long considered Rangasamy’s stronghold.
The Chief Minister is also contesting from the Mangalam seat. Meanwhile, DMK leader and Leader of Opposition R. Siva is seeking re-election from Villianur, where he faces a key challenge from AINRC candidate M. Ravikumar in what is shaping up to be a multi-cornered contest.
Former CM V Narayanasamy, while casting his vote in the Assembly elections, says, “The people of Puducherry want the INDIA alliance to come to power. I am confident that INDIA alliance will form the government here. I request the people to come in large numbers to exercise their democratic right.”
Puducherry Assembly Elections 2026 Live Updates: uducherry: On arrangements for voting in Puducherry, Chief Electoral Officer P. Jawahar says, “… The Election Department of Puducherry, through its district and returning officers, has made extensive arrangements. Logistics are crucial, with polling parties and materials being dispatched to stations on time. This process is tracked using drones and 110 sector officers across 1,099 polling stations… On security, multi-level measures are in place. Of these, 209 polling stations are categorised as vulnerable, where central armed police forces are deployed alongside local police to prevent incidents… Enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct is strict during the 48-hour silence period. Campaigning is banned, liquor outlets are closed, and inducements are closely monitored. Drones, flying squads, and the helpline are used to track violations in real time… Technology plays a key role, especially in regions like Mahe and Yanam, which are far from Puducherry. Drone feeds from these areas are monitored live in 4K quality…”
Union Minister and BJP election in-charge for Puducherry J. P. Nadda, along with Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, on Tuesday flagged off a mega bike rally organised by the Bharatiya Janata Party Yuva Morcha ahead of the Assembly elections.
Addressing party workers, Nadda said an NDA 2.0 government in Puducherry would prioritise economic development in the Union Territory. He urged Yuva Morcha members to highlight the BJP’s poll promises, including providing two free LPG cylinders every year, one during Pongal and another on Vinayaka Chaturthi.
Puducherry Assembly Elections 2026 Live Updates: Calling on people to participate actively in the democratic process, Narendra Modi urged voters in Puducherry to cast their ballots in large numbers during the Assembly elections.
In a message posted on X, the Prime Minister made a special appeal to young voters and women to take part in the polling. “In particular, I appeal to our youth and women voters to strengthen the democratic process. Every vote is crucial in shaping the future of Puducherry,” Modi wrote.
Puducherry Assembly Elections 2026 Live Updates: The AINRC–BJP-led NDA, led by Chief Minister N. Rangasamy, is facing a strong challenge from the Congress–DMK alliance in the Puducherry Assembly elections. Voting is scheduled for April 9, while the counting of votes will take place on May 4.
All eyes are on the Thattanchavady constituency, where Rangasamy is locked in a key contest with former chief minister V. Vaithilingam.
Actor-turned-politician Vijay’s party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, is also fighting the elections.
Puducherry Assembly Elections 2026 Live Updates: The long-pending demand for full statehood has once again become a major political issue during the 2026 Puducherry Assembly elections.
Since its merger with India in the 1960s, Puducherry has functioned as a Union Territory where the lieutenant governor wields greater authority than the elected chief minister.
Puducherry Assembly Elections 2026 Live Updates: Voting for the 30-member Puducherry Legislative Assembly began at 7 am on Thursday with strict security arrangements and extensive preparations across the Union Territory. More than 9.5 lakh eligible voters are expected to cast their ballots to decide the fate of hundreds of candidates contesting the polls.
