Puducherry Assembly Elections 2026 Full Schedule: Puducherry is set to vote for a new Legislative Assembly on April 9, 2026, with polling scheduled in a single phase across all constituencies. As the Union Territory prepares for voting day, officials have issued key guidelines covering polling timings, voter access, and essential requirements to ensure a smooth process.
For both first-time voters and experienced electors, understanding where to vote, what to carry, and key election rules can help avoid last-minute confusion at polling booths.
Puducherry Elections 2026 Polling schedule, holiday and voter access details
Voting will take place across all 30 constituencies on April 9, with polling booths open from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The Election Commission of India has mandated a ban on exit polls starting from 7:00 AM on polling day, which will remain in effect until voting concludes.
The counting of votes for Puducherry and other poll-bound regions will be held on May 4, beginning at 8:00 AM. The election schedule itself was announced earlier on March 15.
To encourage voter participation, April 9 has been declared a paid holiday for employees in commercial and industrial establishments whose names appear on the electoral roll. This provision, under Section 135B of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, ensures that workers can cast their vote without any deduction in wages.
Voters can easily locate their polling booths through the official voter services portal by entering their EPIC number, mobile number, or personal details such as name and date of birth. The portal provides booth number, address, and constituency information.
Puducherry Elections 2026: Key battles
The most critical battleground is Thattanchavady, where incumbent Chief Minister N. Rangasamy (AINRC) faces a direct challenge from former CM and current MP V. Vaithilingam (Congress); as two former colleagues and titans of Puducherry politics, their clash is expected to determine the next Chief Minister. Meanwhile, a crowded four-cornered fight is brewing in Raj Bhavan between BJP State President V.P. Ramalingam, DMK’s Vignesh Kannan, and TVK’s V.J. Chandran, a former IPS officer. Other vital contests include Lawspet, where TVK’s V. Saminathan (formerly of the BJP) tests his new party’s disruptive power against former Speaker V.P. Sivakolundhu, and the isolated enclaves of Mahe and Yanam, which remain traditional strongholds for the Congress and AINRC, respectively.
Dominating the political discourse are the urgent demand for Full Statehood—a point pushed heavily by Rangasamy despite his alliance with the BJP—and the ongoing friction regarding Centre-state power dynamics between the elected government and the Lieutenant Governor. The opposition Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) is currently navigating internal instability, with Congress rebels filing against DMK candidates in six seats, potentially handing an advantage to the NDA. Adding to the volatility is actor Vijay’s TVK, which is projected by the Peoples Pulse survey to secure 2–4 seats, potentially placing them in a “kingmaker” position. With the NDA projected to land between 14–17 seats and the SPA at 9–11, every vote in this single-phase election will be decisive in shaping the Union Territory’s future.
Puducherry Elections 2026: Voter strength, past trends and key FAQs
Puducherry has a total of 30 assembly constituencies, all voting in a single phase. According to official data, there are 9,44,211 registered voters, including 4,43,595 male voters, 5,00,477 female voters, and 139 third gender voters. Notably, female voters outnumber male voters in the Union Territory.
Looking at previous elections, the 2021 Assembly polls saw the NDA alliance, led by the All India N.R. Congress (AINRC), return to power. The AINRC secured 10 seats, while the BJP and DMK won six each, and Congress got two seats. Voter turnout stood at 84.8 percent.
In contrast, the 2016 elections saw Congress emerge as the largest party with 15 seats, followed by AINRC with eight, AIADMK with four, and DMK with two seats. The voter turnout in 2016 was 83.6 percent.
As voters head to the polls, here are some key questions answered
When will the elections be held?
Voting in Puducherry will take place on April 9, 2026, while counting of votes will be conducted on May 4.
How many phases will the election have?
The election will be conducted in a single phase across all constituencies.
When will results be declared?
Results will be announced after counting begins on May 4.
Which alliance won in 2021?
The NDA alliance (AINRC–BJP) secured a majority, with N. Rangasamy becoming Chief Minister.
When does the current Assembly term end?
The present term of the Legislative Assembly will conclude in May 2026.
How many seats are needed for a majority?
In the 30-member Assembly, a party or alliance requires 16 seats to form the government.
Who are the major political players?
Key parties include the All India N.R. Congress (AINRC), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Indian National Congress (INC), Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Communist Party of India (CPI), and Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)].