2021 Puducherry Legislative Assembly election explained
| Election Name: | 2021 Puducherry Legislative Assembly election |
| Country: | India |
| Type: | legislative |
| Vote Type: | Popular |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2016 Puducherry Legislative Assembly election |
| Turnout: | 83.38%(1.7%) |
| Previous Year: | 2016 |
| Election Date: | 6 April 2021 |
| Next Year: | 2026 |
| Seats For Election: | All 30 seats in the Puducherry Legislative Assembly |
| Majority Seats: | 16 |
| Chief Minister |
| Before Election: | V. Narayanasamy |
| Before Party: | Indian National Congress |
| After Election: | N. Rangaswamy |
| After Party: | AINRC |
| Image1: | N Rangaswamy.jpg |
| Leader1: | N. Rangaswamy |
| Party1: | All India N.R. Congress |
| Alliance1: | National Democratic Alliance |
| Leader Since1: | 2011 |
| Leaders Seat1: | Thattanchavady (won)
Yanam (lost) |
| Last Election1: | 8 |
| Seats Before1: | 7 |
| Seats1: | 10 |
| Seat Change1: | 2 |
| Popular Vote1: | 216,249 |
| Percentage1: | 25.85% |
| Swing1: | 2.25% |
| Leader2: | R. Siva |
| Party2: | Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam |
| Leader Since2: | 2021 |
| Leaders Seat2: | Villianur |
| Alliance2: | SPA+UPA |
| Last Election2: | 2 |
| Seats Before2: | 2 |
| Seats2: | 6 |
| Seat Change2: | 4 |
| Popular Vote2: | 154,858 |
| Percentage2: | 18.51% |
| Swing2: | 9.61% |
| Image4: | A. Namassivayam.png |
| Leader4: | A. Namassivayam |
| Party4: | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| Leader Since4: | 2021 |
| Leaders Seat4: | Mannadipet |
| Alliance4: | National Democratic Alliance |
| Last Election4: | 0 |
| Seats Before4: | 3 |
| Seats4: | 6 |
| Seat Change4: | 6 |
| Popular Vote4: | 114,298 |
| Percentage4: | 13.66% |
| Swing4: | 11.26% |
| Image5: | VNarayanasamy.jpg |
| Leader5: | V. Narayanasamy |
| Party5: | Indian National Congress |
| Leader Since5: | 2016 |
| Leaders Seat5: | Did not contest |
| Alliance5: | SPA+UPA |
| Last Election5: | 15 |
| Seats Before5: | 9 |
| Seats5: | 2 |
| Seat Change5: | 13 |
| Popular Vote5: | 131,393 |
| Percentage5: | 15.71% |
| Swing5: | 14.89% |
The fifteenth legislative assembly election was held on 6 April 2021 to elect members from 30 constituencies of the 15th Puducherry Assembly in the union territory of Puducherry in India. The National democratic alliance has won a simple majority[1] [2]
Background
In the previous elections in 2016, the election brought a change of power as the All India N.R. Congress (AINRC), which had formed the government under N. Rangaswamy, lost its majority to the Indian National Congress (INC), led by V. Narayanasamy.
In the previous elections in 2016 Indian National Congress (INC) emerged as Single Largest Party[3] with 15 seats, with the support of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) the government was formed.[4] However, a trust vote was called after five MLAs of the Congress, including two ministers, and one DMK MLA resigned from the Assembly. Two of the Congress leaders had joined the BJP which is in alliance with Opposition NR Congress in the Union Territory.[5] The ruling party lost the trust vote after the speaker decided to accept votes from nominated MLAs on equal standing to the elected ones. The outgoing chief minister Narayanasamy commented that the Lieutenant Governor, who was a former president of BJP, had appointed members of her own party for all nominated seats, including one who garnished only 174 votes when he contested in regular elections. [6]
After the 2021 election, the Lt Governor once again granted all the non-elected MLAs to BJP, and thus making it the second largest party [7] with 1/3rd of the seats solely from nominated members rather than directly elected by the people.[8]
Schedule
| Event | Date |
|---|
| Date for Nominations | 12 March 2021 |
| Last Date for filing Nominations | 19 March 2021 |
| Date for scrutiny of nominations | 20 March 2021 |
| Last date for withdrawal of candidatures | 22 March 2021 |
| Date of poll | 6 April 2021 |
| Date of counting | 2 May 2021 |
| Date before which the election shall be completed | 24 May 2021 | |
Parties and alliances
CPIM contested the Muthialpet seat and supported the alliance in all other seats.
PMK supports this alliance without contesting in any seat.
Candidates
Polls and surveys
Opinion polls
Date published! rowspan="2" width="175px" | Polling agency | | | | Lead |
|---|
| NDA | UPA | Others |
|---|
| 3 April 2021 | Thanthi TV[9] | 21-27 | 3-9 | 0 | |
| 24 March 2021 | Patriotic Voter [10] | 17-18 | 10-12 | 0-3 | |
| 15 March 2021 | ABP News - CVoter[11] | 16-20 | 10-14 | 0 | |
| 8 March 2021 | Times Now - CVoter[12] | 18 | 12 | 0 | |
| 1 March 2021 | Patriotic Voter | 19 | 11 | 0 | |
|
Exit polls
| Date published | Polling agency | | | | Lead |
|---|
| NDA | UPA | Others |
|---|
| 29 April 2021 | Republic TV-CNX[13] | | 16-20 | 11-13 | - | | 5-7 |
| 29 April 2021 | Patriotic Voter [14] | | 18 | 12 | - | | 6 |
| 29 April 2021 | ABP-C Voter | | 19-23 | 6-10 | 1-2 | | 9-17 | |
Voter Turnout
| S.No. | District | Vote % |
|---|
| 1. | Karaikal | 80.07 |
|---|
| 2. | Puducherry | 82.01 |
|---|
| 3. | Yanam | 91.27[15] |
|---|
| 4. | Mahé | 73.53 |
|---|
| Total | 81.69[16] | |
|---|
Result
Results by party
|
|---|
| Colspan=2 | Party | Votes | Vote % | Swing | Conts | Won | Strike rate | Change |
|---|
| All India N.R. Congress | 216,249 | 25.85 | 2.3 | 16 | 10 | 62.50% | 2 |
| | 154,858 | 18.51 | 9.6 | 13 | 6 | 46.15% | 4 |
| Bharatiya Janata Party | 114,298 | 13.66 | 11.3 | 9 | 6 | 66.67% | 6 |
| Independents | 106,098 | 12.68 | | | 6 | - | 5 |
| Indian National Congress | 131,393 | 15.71 | 14.9 | 14 | 2 | 8.33% | 13 |
| All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | 34,623 | 4.14 | 12.7 | 5 | 0 | 0.00% | 4 |
| Naam Tamilar Katchi | 28,189 | 3.37 | 2.9 | 28 | 0 | 0.00% | |
| Makkal Needhi Maiam | 15,825 | 1.89 | 1.89 | 22 | 0 | 0.00% | New Party |
| Communist Party of India | 7,522 | 0.90 | 0.2 | 1 | 0 | 0.00% | |
| None of the above | 10,803 | 1.29 | 0.4 | |
| Total | 8,36,562 | 100 | | 30 | 30 | | |
|
|---|
| Valid votes | 8,36,562 | 99.88 | |
| Invalid votes | 981 | 0.12 |
| Votes cast / turnout | 8,37,543 | 83.38% |
| Registered voters | 10,04,507 | |
| Source:[17] | |
Results by party and alliance
| NDA | SEATS | UPA | SEATS | Others | SEATS |
|---|
| AINRC | | 10 | INC | | 2 | IND | | 5 |
| BJP | | 6 | DMK | | 6 | | | |
| | | IND | | 1 | | | |
| Total | 16 | Total | 9 | Total | 5 |
| Change | 4 | Change | 8 | Change | 4 | |
[18] Results by district
| District | Seats | | | |
|---|
| NDA | UPA | Oth. |
|---|
| Puducherry | 23 | 14 | 5 | 4 |
|---|
| Karaikal | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
|---|
| Mahe | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
|---|
| Yanam | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
|---|
| Total | 30 | 16 | 9 | 5 | |
|---|
Results by constituency
Government formation
See main article: Fourth Rangaswamy ministry. Even though results for the election were declared on 2 May, the government formation was finalized on 8 June.The results were with NDA winning 16 seats (AIRNC :- 10, BJP :- 6) and UPA winning 9 seats (DMK :- 6, INC :- 2, Independent :- 1) and 5 Independents not backed by either of the alliance won.Immediately the NDA unanimously elected N. Rangaswamy from AIRNC as the CM, and the UPA elected R.Siva from the DMK as the Leader Of Opposition.Post results the central government nominated 3 MLAs affiliated to the BJP, thereby taking NDA to 19 seats and BJP to 9.Furthermore, before the swearing in of the government, 3 Independent MLAs pledged support to AIRNC and 2 Independent MLAs pledged support to BJP, also the 1 Independent MLA backed by UPA during election later switched allegiance to BJP. The NDA MLAs increased to 25 and UPA decreased to 8.Even after the swearing in ceremony of the CM, the talks between AIRNC and BJP on cabinet composition and assembly speaker continued for more than a month. On 8 June the alliance announced that the BJP would get 2 ministers and the post of assembly speaker, while AIRNC will get 3 ministers.
See also
Notes and References
- News: Puducherry CM Narayanasamy brokers truce between DMK, Congress . 19 January 2020 . The New Indian Express . 17 February 2020 . 27 January 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200127084741/https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2020/jan/19/puducherry-cm-narayanasamy-brokers-truce-between-dmk-congress-2091391.html . live .
- Web site: BJP alliance to sweep Puducherry assembly polls: Asianet-C fore pre-poll survey. 16 March 2021. Hindustan Times. 17 March 2021. 17 March 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210317102155/https://www.hindustantimes.com/elections/puducherry-assembly-election/bjp-alliance-to-sweep-puducherry-assembly-polls-asianet-c-fore-pre-poll-survey-101615908388517.html. live.
- News: Congress emerges as the single largest party in Puducherry - Times of India. The Times of India. 20 May 2016. 20 March 2021. 28 September 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210928042522/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/elections-2016/puducherry-elections-2016/news/congress-emerges-as-the-single-largest-party-with-15-seats-in-30-member-puducherry-assembly/articleshow/52343485.cms. live.
- News: Congress-DMK front regains power in Pondy - Times of India. The Times of India. 20 May 2016. 20 March 2021. 28 September 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210928053200/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/elections-2016/puducherry-elections-2016/news/congress-dmk-front-regains-power-in-pondy/articleshow/52355802.cms. live.
- News: Archived copy . Businessline . February 22, 2021 . 13 May 2023 . 13 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230513204654/https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/national/congress-loses-puducherry-narayanasamy-blames-bjp/article33901435.ece . live .
- News: Archived copy . Businessline . February 22, 2021 . 13 May 2023 . 13 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230513204654/https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/national/congress-loses-puducherry-narayanasamy-blames-bjp/article33901435.ece . live .
- News: Archived copy . Rediff news . June 21, 2023 . 13 May 2023 . 13 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230513205017/https://www.rediff.com/news/column/how-bjp-got-its-way-in-puducherry/20210717.htm#:~:text=It%20took%20Mr%20Surana%20(primarily,BJP%2C%20will%20now%20rule%20Puducherry. . live .
- News: Archived copy . The New Indian Express . May 11, 2021 . 13 May 2023 . 13 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230513205708/https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2021/may/11/three-nominated-mlas-take-bjps-tally-in-puducherry-to-9-2301057.html . live .
- Web site: Thanthi TV Opinion Poll 2021. YouTube. en. 9 April 2021. 20 August 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230820232648/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeG0FYF4EY4&list=LL&index=3. live.
- Web site: Puducherry 2020. 7 September 2021. 7 September 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210907185018/https://www.sites.google.com/view/patvot/surveys/puducherry-2020. live.
- Web site: ABP CVoter Opinion Poll 2021: Voters' Mood Not In Favour Of Congress-Led Alliance In Puducherry, NDA Likely To Form Govt. 15 March 2021. en. 16 March 2021. 15 March 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210315222210/https://news.abplive.com/news/india/abp-news-cvoter-opinion-poll-2021-results-puducherry-opinion-poll-results-2021-ainrc-congress-bjp-vote-share-seat-wise-details-1448619. live.
- Web site: Puducherry pre-poll survey 2021: 'Congress likely to lose its grip; NDA projected to form govt'. www.timesnownews.com. 12 March 2021. 11 March 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210311032603/https://www.timesnownews.com/india/puducherry/article/puducherry-pre-poll-survey/729729. live.
- Web site: 2021-04-29. Elections Exit Poll Results 2021 Live Updates: Exit polls show Mamata, Pinarayi and Sonowal holding on to power. 2021-04-29. The Indian Express. en. 29 April 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210429144719/https://indianexpress.com/elections/elections-exit-poll-results-2021-bengal-tamil-nadu-kerala-assam-live-updates-7293961/. live.
- Web site: PUDUCHERRY 2020 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20210823185221/https://www.sites.google.com/view/patvot/survey/puducherry-2020 . 23 August 2021.
- Web site: Puducherry Election 2021: UT registers 81.64% polling as Congress-led SDA locks horns with NDA in bid to regain turf. Firstpost. 6 April 2021. 11 August 2022. 11 August 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220811151409/https://www.firstpost.com/politics/puducherry-election-2021-ut-registers-81-64-polling-as-congress-led-sda-locks-horns-with-nda-in-bid-to-regain-turf-9502581.html. live.
- News: Assembly elections | Peaceful polling in T.N., Kerala, Puducherry, Assam and Bengal. The Hindu. 6 April 2021. 6 April 2021. 6 April 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210406174918/https://www.thehindu.com/elections/assembly-elections-peaceful-polling-in-tn-kerala-puducherry-assam-and-bengal/article34256847.ece. live.
- Web site: GENERAL ELECTION TO VIDHAN SABHA TRENDS & RESULT MAY-2021. results.eci.gov.in. 2021-05-02. 2021-05-08. 2 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210502195200/https://results.eci.gov.in/Result2021/partywiseresult-U07.htm?st=U07. live.
- Web site: Election Commission of India. 2021-05-02. results.eci.gov.in. 2 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210502195200/https://results.eci.gov.in/Result2021/partywiseresult-U07.htm?st=U07. live.
