12-year Congress reign ends in Puducherry

Ousting Congress, All India NR Congress - All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam combine on Friday secured a majority winning 17 of the 26 seats for which results were declared and was leading in two in the elections to the 30-member Puducherry Assembly.

In a debacle, reflecting the trend in neighbouring Tamil Nadu where Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and its ally Congress suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of AIADMK, the ruling combine in the union territory managed to win only nine seats.

Former Chief Minister N Rangasamy is set to form the next government as his AINRC made a striking electoral debut winning 14 seats, while the AIADMK won three  and was ahead in two other segments.

With trends from only one seat awaited and a pro-AINRC independent leading in another segment, the AINRC-AIADMK combine was expected to take its tally to 20. Rangasamy, who broke away from Congress to float his own outfit on poll eve, won both seats he contested.

Congress won seven of the 17 seats it contested and DMK two of the 10. Rangasamy, who was replaced as chief minister by the arty high command two years ago after a revolt by partymen including his cabinet colleagues, emerged victorious in Indira Nagar and Kadigamam constituencies.