Puducherry: the INC years, 1985–2006
15 Assembly elections · 1964–2026 · every seat count and share is read from the official record.
Puducherry has voted in 15 Assembly elections between 1964 and 2026. Indian National Congress has been the largest party in 7 of them — more than any rival.
Power has changed hands 8 times. The steadiest run was Indian National Congress's — the top party from 1985 to 2006 across 6 elections.
In 2011, AINRC broke through — 15 of 30 seats — ending Indian National Congress's hold, which fell from 10 to 7.
In 2016, Indian National Congress broke through — 14 of 30 seats — ending AINRC's hold, which fell from 15 to 9.
In 2021, AINRC broke through — 10 of 30 seats — ending Indian National Congress's hold, which fell from 14 to 0.
In 2026, All India N.R. Congress broke through — 12 of 30 seats — ending AINRC's hold, which fell from 10 to 0.
The sharpest single swing was 1969: Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam went from 0 to 15 seats, a gain of 15.
The closest verdict was 1990: Indian National Congress finished just 2 seats ahead of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.
Most recently, in 2026, All India N.R. Congress holds 12 of 30 seats on 23.1% of the vote — short of the 16-seat majority.
Every time power changed hands
- 1969DMK took the house with 15 of 30, ending CONG’s run (20 → 0).
- 1974AIADMK took the house with 12 of 30, ending DMK’s run (15 → 2).
- 1980DMK took the house with 14 of 30, ending AIADMK’s run (14 → 0).
- 1985INC took the house with 15 of 30, ending DMK’s run (14 → 5).
- 2011AINRC took the house with 15 of 30, ending INC’s run (10 → 7).
- 2016INC took the house with 14 of 30, ending AINRC’s run (15 → 9).
- 2021AINRC took the house with 10 of 30, ending INC’s run (14 → 0).
- 2026AINC took the house with 12 of 30, ending AINRC’s run (10 → 0).
Party identity
renames, splits and mergers along the way- Indian National Congress saw All India Trinamool Congress break away in 1998; saw Nationalist Congress Party break away in 1999; saw YSR Congress Party break away in 2011; saw NCO break away in 1969; saw INCU break away in 1979; saw ICS break away in 1978; saw BAC break away in 1966; saw UTC break away in 1969; saw HVP break away in 1996; saw AINRC break away in 2011; took in MSCP in 2014; took in ICS in 1986; took in NNO in 1976; took in HVP in 2004; took in VHP in 1978.
- Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam saw All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam break away in 1972.
- All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam broke away from Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in 1972.
- AINRC broke away from Indian National Congress in 2011.