In a closely watched contest, G Nehru alias Couppoussamy of the Neyam Makkal Kazhagam (NMK) emerged victorious from the Orleampeth constituency in Puducherry, defeating DMK's S Gopal by a margin of 1,201 votes. The seat, located in the heart of Puducherry city, is a bustling urban area home to a mix of middle-class families, traders, and working residents.
The election saw a high voter turnout, with 89.52% of the 24,000-odd voters casting their ballots by 7 pm on voting day, April 9. The turnout steadily increased throughout the day, starting at 17.62% at 9 am, rising to 36.82% by 11 am, 57.04% by 1 pm, 72.22% by 3 pm, and 86.87% by 5 pm.
Three candidates were in the fray: A Gandhi for the AIADMK (NDA), S Gopal for the DMK-led SPA alliance with the Congress, and sitting MLA G Nehru Kuppusamy for the TVK (alliance with NMK). Notably, Kuppusamy contested under a party banner this time after winning as an independent in the previous election.
The Orleampeth seat has a history of competitive politics. DMK's R Siva was a familiar name here, winning in 1996, 2001, 2006, and 2016. However, Kuppusamy won the seat in 2011 on an AINRC ticket and again in 2021 as an independent, defeating Gopal by 2,093 votes. Over 20,000 voters had turned out in that election.
The 2026 election results have been closely watched across Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry, with the TVK party emerging as a formidable force in Tamil Nadu, pushing DMK and AIADMK to the margins. Meanwhile, in West Bengal, the BJP is projected to oust Mamata Banerjee, while retaining Assam.
