Yanam election result 2026: AINRC’s Malladi Krishna Rao defeats Congress, reclaims seat

Malladi Krishna Rao of the All India N.R. Congress won the Yanam assembly seat, defeating Gollapalli Srinivas Ashok of the Indian National Congress by 4,568 votes. Krishna Rao secured 19,863 votes against Ashok’s 15,295, marking a return to power for the veteran leader. Thota Raju of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam finished a distant third with 167 votes, while independents secured marginal numbers. The result marks a comeback for Krishna Rao, who had dominated Yanam politics for two decades before losing in 2021, when Ashok pulled off a surprise win. The constituency, located in Andhra Pradesh’s Godavari delta with a predominantly Telugu-speaking electorate, has a distinct political character within Puducherry. Yanam recorded one of the highest turnouts in the region at 93.24%, up from 91.28% in 2021, reflecting strong voter participation in a closely watched contest between experienced political figures.For nearly two decades, Malladi Krishna Rao dominated Yanam politics, winning five consecutive elections from 1996 to 2016 under different party banners. However, the 2021 election marked a major shift when independent candidate Gollapalli Srinivas Ashok secured a surprise victory, defeating incumbent chief minister and AINRC preident N Rangasamy by 655 votes. That election saw exceptionally high participation, with 34,792 out of 36,562 registered voters casting their ballots.In 2026, voter turnout climbed even higher, reaching 93.24% by 7 pm, compared to 91.28% in 2021. Polling progressed steadily through the day, starting at 16.6% at 9 am, rising to 36.86% by 11 am, 57.12% at 1 pm, 74.63% by 3 pm, and 89.8% by 5 pm, reflecting strong civic engagement.