Mahe election result 2026: Independent Ashok Kumar defeats Congress, BJP in tight contest

NEW DELHI: T. Ashok Kumar won the Mahe assembly seat in Puducherry as an Independent, defeating Ramesh Parambath of the Indian National Congress by 1,115 votes. Ashok Kumar secured 8,375 votes, while Parambath polled 7,260.A. Dinesan of the Bharatiya Janata Party finished a close third with 6,969 votes, making it a tightly fought three-way contest. Candidates from the Indian Union Muslim League, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam and independents secured marginal votes.Mahe, a geographically distinct Puducherry enclave within Kerala, has seen fluctuating electoral outcomes over the years. The seat, earlier held by Congress, had also witnessed an Independent victory in 2016. In 2021, Parambath reclaimed it with a narrow margin of around 300 votes.The constituency recorded a turnout of 77.41%, higher than 73.54% in 2021, reflecting steady voter participation through the day in a closely contested election marked by shifting loyalties.