Puducherry exit polls 2026: NDA likely to retain power; Congress, TVK lag in fragmented fight | India News
Puducherry’s 2026 assembly elections turned out to be a closely watched contest, marked by a high voter turnout of 89.83 percent, multiple tight contests and the entry of a new political force. The main battle remains between the ruling NDA led by the AINRC-BJP alliance and the Congress-DMK-led opposition alliance, while the Tamilga Vetri Kazhagam has added a third dimension in several constituencies.Note: Exit polls are only predictions based on surveys and may be completely wrong on May 4 results day.Exit poll estimates by People Pulse indicate a narrow edge for the NDA, projecting 16-19 seats in the 30-member House, while the Congress-led alliance is expected to get 10-12 seats. TVK is expected to draw a blank with zero seats, and other parties could win up to two seats.According to Axis My India estimates, the NDA is leading with 16-20 seats, while the Congress-DMK bloc is estimated to have six-eight seats. TVK is projected to win two-four seats, while other parties are expected to win one-three seats, suggesting a more fragmented contest with a visible third force.Exit poll estimates by Praja Poll suggest a close contest with a slight edge for the NDA, which is projected to win 19-25 seats in the 30-member assembly. The Congress-led coalition is projected to win 6-10 seats, though the survey does not indicate a clear projection for Tamilga Vetri Kazhagam or other smaller parties.According to Kamakhya Analytics, the NDA is projected to get 17-24 seats, while the opposition Congress-DMK alliance is likely to win 4-7 seats. TVK is projected to make a limited entry with 1-2 seats, while other parties are expected to win 0-1 seats, indicating a more competitive multi-cornered field.Exit poll estimates by Jan Ki Baat Voter Connect indicate a tightly contested result in Puducherry, with the NDA projected to win 15-17 seats in the 30-member assembly. The Congress-led alliance has been placed close to 11-13 seats, indicating a competitive bipolar contest in the union territory. Several key constituencies such as Mangalam, Thatanchabadi, Mannadipet, Ojhukarai and Lospet saw high-profile contests, while voter turnout in constituencies such as Osudu, Bahaur and Nettapakkam crossed 93 percent, reflecting strong voter turnout across the union territory.Polling for Puducherry’s 30-member assembly ended on April 29, with counting scheduled for May 4.
