Neravy-TR Pattinam election result 2026: BJP’s Meenatchisundaram flips DMK bastion, wins by 2,018 votes

NEW DELHI: TKSM Meenatchisundaram of the Bharatiya Janata Party won the Neravy–TR Pattinam seat in Puducherry, defeating incumbent M. Nagathiyagarajan of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam by a margin of 2,018 votes. Meenatchisundaram secured 10,818 votes against Nagathiyagarajan’s 8,800. Independent candidate V.M.C.S. Manoharen came third with 3,296 votes, followed by Ganesh @ Pranadarti Gareswaran of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam with 2,878 votes. Candidates from Naam Tamilar Katchi and independents secured marginal votes. The result marks a significant shift in the rural-coastal constituency, long considered a DMK stronghold, where the party had won five of the last six elections. In 2021, Nagathiyagarajan had secured victory by over 5,500 votes. Neravy–TR Pattinam, where agriculture and fishing dominate livelihoods, recorded a turnout of 83.42%, slightly higher than 2021. Polling remained steady through the day, indicating strong voter participation in a closely watched three-cornered contest.