Riding a pro-incumbency wave, the AINRC-led NDA emerged victorious in the April 9 Puducherry Assembly elections, all set to form the government for a successive term.AINRC leader and Chief Minister N Rangasamy won from both seats that he contested — Thattanchavady and Mangalam, even as the party won 12 seats, according to latest Election Commission figures.Elections to 30 seats were held on April 9. The territorial Assembly also has three nominated members to the House.NDA constituent BJP won from four seats while other coalition members — AIADMK and LJK — won from one seat each.Winners from the BJP included party senior and incumbent minister A Namassivayam.The NDA’s victory came on a day when actor Vijay-led TVK won in neighbouring Tamil Nadu and also emerged victorious from two seats in the UT.Opposition DMK won five seats and Congress one.While the CM trounced Neyam Makkal Kazhagam rival E Vinayagam by 4,441 votes in Thattanchavady, his pocket borough seat, Rangasamy emerged victorious in Managalam too, defeating DMK’s SS Rangan by 7,050 votes. This is not the first time that Rangasamy has sought to contest from two seats.


