NDA Finalizes Puducherry Seat-Sharing: AINRC 16, BJP 10

In Puducherry, the National Democratic Alliance finalized its seat-sharing agreement for the April 9, 2026, Legislative Assembly elections on March 20, allocating 16 of the 30 seats to the All India N.R. Congress, led by Chief Minister N. Rangasamy. The Bharatiya Janata Party received 10 seats, while allies All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the newly formed Latchiya Jananayaga Katchi each secured two.

The agreement came after days of negotiations amid initial resistance from Rangasamy, who had objected to including the Latchiya Jananayaga Katchi, a party founded by businessman Jose Charles Martin, the son of lottery baron Santiago Martin. Rangasamy relented following discussions with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and a meeting with Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, the BJP's election in-charge for Puducherry. Mandaviya confirmed that Rangasamy would lead the alliance and serve as its chief ministerial candidate if victorious. "We hope that we win the election; our alliance will form the government under the leadership of N. Rangasamy," Mandaviya told reporters after the talks at a local hotel.

Rangasamy, who filed nomination papers from the Thattanchavady and Mangalam...