Malladi Krishna Rao of the All India N.R. Congress (AINRC) has won the Yanam assembly seat, defeating Gollapalli Srinivas Ashok of the Indian National Congress by a margin of 4,568 votes. Krishna Rao secured 19,863 votes, while Ashok received 15,295. This victory marks a return to power for the veteran leader, who had dominated Yanam politics for two decades before a setback in 2021.
Election Results Overview
Thota Raju of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam finished a distant third with just 167 votes, while independent candidates secured negligible numbers. The constituency, located in Andhra Pradesh's Godavari delta, has a predominantly Telugu-speaking electorate and a distinct political character within the union territory of Puducherry. Yanam recorded one of the highest voter turnouts in the region at 93.24%, up from 91.28% in the previous election, reflecting strong civic engagement.
Krishna Rao's Political Comeback
For nearly two decades, Malladi Krishna Rao was a dominant figure in Yanam politics, winning five consecutive elections from 1996 to 2016 under various party banners. However, the 2021 election marked a major shift when independent candidate Gollapalli Srinivas Ashok secured a surprise victory, defeating incumbent Chief Minister and AINRC president N. Rangasamy by 655 votes. That election saw exceptionally high participation, with 34,792 out of 36,562 registered voters casting their ballots.
In 2026, voter turnout climbed even higher, reaching 93.24% by 7 pm. Polling progressed steadily throughout the day: 16.6% at 9 am, 36.86% by 11 am, 57.12% at 1 pm, 74.63% by 3 pm, and 89.8% by 5 pm. The high turnout underscores the intense interest in this closely watched contest between experienced political figures.
Constituency Context
Yanam, a small enclave within Andhra Pradesh, is part of the Puducherry union territory. Its electorate is primarily Telugu-speaking, giving it a unique political identity. The 2026 election saw a further increase in voter participation, building on the already high turnout of 2021. The results reflect the shifting political loyalties and the enduring influence of seasoned leaders like Krishna Rao.
Stay tuned for the latest election results 2026, including live updates, winner lists, constituency-wise results, party-wise trends, and full coverage for Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry on Times of India.
