All India NR Congress's V P Sivakolundhu emerged victorious from the Lawspet constituency in Puducherry, defeating Congress candidate M Vaithianathan by a margin of 1,417 votes. The constituency, known as a premier urban battleground, witnessed a dramatic shift in political allegiances during the 2026 assembly elections.
High-Stakes Three-Way Contest
The race featured a high-stakes encounter between former associates: sitting member M Vaithianathan, running for the Congress-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA), and his predecessor V P Sivakolundhu, who carried the banner of the All India NR Congress within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The entry of V Saminathan, a former Puducherry BJP president now spearheading the TVK campaign, transformed the contest into a volatile three-way struggle.
Historical Voting Patterns
Lawspet, a prime urban constituency in northern Puducherry, is recognised for its highly literate voter base, key educational institutions, and dense residential neighbourhoods. The seat has historically been a centrepiece of political shifts. In the 2021 assembly elections, Vaithianathan secured a commanding victory by defeating Saminathan by a margin of 5,701 votes. This was a reversal of the 2016 outcome, in which Sivakolundhu, then a Congress leader, won by 6,449 votes in the race with Vaithianathan who contested as an Independent candidate.
High Voter Turnout
The constituency has consistently demonstrated strong civic engagement, with the 2021 polls recording a turnout of 82.6%, which soared to 88% for this year's election. The 2026 Puducherry assembly elections took place on April 9, recording a historic voter turnout of 91.23%, with results declared on May 4. The contest shifted from a traditional two-way battle into a high-stakes three-way struggle between the ruling NDA (led by the AINRC and BJP), the SPA (anchored by the Congress and DMK), and the newly formed TVK–NMK alliance headed by actor-politician Vijay.
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