As the political landscape in the Union Territory gears up for the 2026 assembly elections, a look back at the pivotal 2021 polls provides crucial context. The election, which determined the composition of the 30-member Puducherry Legislative Assembly, set the stage for the current political dynamics.
The Electoral Battle: NDA vs UPA Alliances
The 2021 contest was primarily fought between two major coalitions. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) comprised the All India NR Congress (AINRC), which contested 16 seats, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on nine seats, and the AIADMK on five seats.
Opposing them was the United Progressive Alliance (UPA). The Indian National Congress led this front, contesting 14 seats. Its key partner, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), fielded candidates in 13 constituencies. The Communist Party of India (CPI), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), and an independent candidate completed the UPA slate, contesting one seat each.
Voting, Results, and Government Formation
Polling for all 30 constituencies was held on April 6, 2021. The Union Territory recorded a voter turnout of 83.38%, which marked a slight decrease compared to the previous assembly elections.
The counting of votes took place on May 2, 2021. The results delivered a clear mandate. The NDA alliance secured a majority by winning 16 seats. The breakdown within the alliance was AINRC (10 seats) and BJP (6 seats). The AIADMK failed to win any seats.
The UPA alliance managed to win 9 seats. The DMK was the most successful party within the coalition with six victories, while the Congress won only two seats. One independent candidate supported by the UPA also emerged victorious. Notably, five other independent candidates won their respective constituencies, highlighting a fractured mandate beyond the main alliances.
Reactions and the Swearing-In
Following the victory, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to express gratitude. He stated, "I thank the people of Puducherry for blessing NDA. We are humbled to serve the people and fulfil their dreams. Our Karyakartas made outstanding efforts to work among the people and elaborate on our agenda of good governance."
On the other side, then-Congress president Sonia Gandhi acknowledged the party's poor performance. She commented, "Our performance was disappointing and the party must collectively draw appropriate lessons from this setback in a spirit of humility and honesty."
Subsequently, All India NR Congress founder N. Rangaswamy was sworn in as the Chief Minister on May 7, 2021. This victory marked the beginning of his fourth term at the helm of the Puducherry government.
The outcome of the 2021 elections reshaped Puducherry's political framework, with the AINRC-led NDA coalition returning to power. The results underscored the alliance's strength while revealing significant challenges for the Congress-led UPA. These factors will undoubtedly influence strategies and voter sentiment as the territory moves toward the next electoral contest in 2026.
