Puducherry is set to learn who will form the next government as counting for the 30-member Legislative Assembly begins tomorrow. The Election Commission will announce the verdict based on the vote count, deciding the leadership for the next five years.
Polling for all 30 constituencies was held on the 9th of last month, with 294 candidates in the fray. A total of 1,099 electronic voting machines were used, and the overall turnout touched 91.23%, including 1.36% postal votes.
All EVMs have been secured under three-tier police protection at six counting centres—three in Puducherry, and one each in Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam. Counting will begin with postal ballots at 8 am, followed by EVM counting from 8:30 am.
The process is split into two phases: results for 17 constituencies are expected by 2 pm, while the remaining 13 constituencies are scheduled to be completed by 5:30 pm. The contest has turned into a four-cornered fight, with the NR Congress-BJP-AIADMK-LJK alliance facing the Congress-DMK combine, while TVK and Naam Tamilar Katchi are contesting separately.
