Thattanchavady election results 2026: CM Rangasamy defeats Vaithilingam with 4,441 votes

Chief minister N Rangasamy won from the Thattanchavady constituency, defeating former chief minister and veteran leader V Vaithilingam with a margin of 4,441 votes.Thattanchavady became the ultimate theatre of regional power as chief minister N Rangasamy (AINRC) sought to defend his political home against two high-profile challengers. In a major strategic play, the Congress (SPA) fielded former chief minister and veteran leader V Vaithilingam, setting up a rare and historic direct clash between two of Puducherry's most influential political figures. The race was further complicated by E Vinayagam, who contested for the Neyam Makkal Kazhagam's (NMK) under its alliance with TVK, positioning himself as a disruptive alternative to the traditional binary.Thattanchavady, one of the key assembly constituencies in Puducherry, is an urban seat located in the central part of the UT, known for its established residential areas and strong political significance. Widely regarded as Rangasamy’s political stronghold, the constituency saw him secure victory in the 2021 assembly elections by defeating K Sethu Selvam by a margin of 5,456 votes. The constituency has seen unique volatility. The constituency has seen unique political volatility as the 2016 victory of Ashok Anand, whose subsequent disqualification led to a 2019 by-election won by K Venkatesan (then DMK), briefly breaking the AINRC’s direct hold. Despite these shifts, the constituency remains a cornerstone of regional power. Reflecting this high-stakes environment, the constituency recorded a notable jump in engagement with a voter turnout of 82.44% as compared to the 76.89% of 2021.The 2026 Puducherry assembly elections took place on April 9, recording a historic voter turnout of 91.23%, with results declared on May 4. The contest shifted from a traditional two-way battle into a high-stakes three-way struggle between the ruling NDA (led by the AINRC and BJP), the SPA (anchored by the Congress and DMK), and the newly formed TVK–NMK alliance headed by actor-politician Vijay.