Polling for Puducherry Assembly election, that began at 7 a.m. in all the 30 constituencies of the Union Territory, ended at 6 p.m. on Thursday (April 9, 2026). The constituencies are spread over Puducherry (23), Karaikal (five), Mahe (one) and Yanam (one). Results will be declared on May 4.
Also Read | What happens inside a polling booth? A simple guide for first time voters
According to data published by the Election Commission of India at 8.15 p.m., Puducherry that has 9.5 lakh voters on electoral roll, recorded 89.83% voter turnout for the 2026 Assembly election, the highest in the history of the Union Territory. Notably, Puducherry became a part of the Union of India after the Union Territories Act came into force in 1963.
The voter turnout percentage is expected to increase as the final figures for this year’s election are yet to be announced. So far, the Union Territory’s highest voter turnout percentage stood at 86% in 2006. During the last Assembly election in 2021, 82.2% votes were polled.
Follow LIVE: Kerala updates | Assam updates
The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by the All India N.R. Congress (AINRC) and the INDIA bloc comprising Congress, DMK and the VCK are the two principal alliances in the race and the entry of actor-politician led Vijay’s TVK has led to a lot of expectations. Actor-director Seeman’s Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) is another party which is in the race, determined to make a mark.