Puducherry LoP, DMK's R Siva, trails on Villinaur seat as NDA holds ground in UT

E-PaperSubscribeSubscribeEnjoy unlimited accessSubscribe Now! Get features like As the counting for the 30-seat Puducherry Assembly is udnerway, senior DMK leader R. Siva is currently trailing from Puducherry's Villianur constituency. Siva currently serves as the Leader of Opposition in the Puducherry Legislative Assembly and represents the Villianur constituency. Track updates on Puducherry results Puducherry: Leader of Opposition in Puducherry Assembly and DMK candidate from Villiyanur constituency R Siva and his family members show their ink-marked fingers after casting votes during the Puducherry Assembly elections, at a polling station in Puducherry, Thursday, April 9, 2026. (PTI Photo) (PTI04_09_2026_000290B) (PTI)BackgroundR. Siva was born in 1967 in Puducherry and entered politics through the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), gradually emerging as one of its prominent leaders in the Union Territory. His political career began in the mid-1990s when he was first elected to the Puducherry Legislative Assembly in 1996 from the Orleampeth constituency. He retained this seat and served continuously until 2011, establishing himself as a long-term MLA with strong organisational presence in Puducherry politics. Follow latest updates on Tamil Nadu election results After a gap from the Assembly, he returned in the 2016 elections, again representing Orleampeth. His continued electoral success reflected his sustained influence in urban Puducherry constituencies. In addition to his legislative role, he has also been closely associated with strengthening DMK’s organisational structure in the Union Territory. Over time, he emerged as a key party strategist and frontline leader. In the 2021 Assembly elections, he shifted to the Villianur constituency and won again, marking another successful electoral return. Following this victory, he was appointed as the Leader of Opposition in the Puducherry Legislative Assembly on 8 May 2021. He also became the Secretary of the DMK Puducherry unit, further consolidating his leadership role in the party. Here is all you need to know about Bengal election results The Villianur Assembly Constituency is a legislative assembly constituency in the Union Territory of Puducherry. It is constituency number 5 and forms part of the Puducherry Lok Sabha seat. Established in 1964, it has around 42,329 registered electors . In the 2011 Puducherry Legislative Assembly election, A. Namassivayam (Indian National Congress) won the Villianur seat, beginning a phase of Congress dominance in the constituency. In the 2016 election, he again retained the seat for Congress, winning with a strong vote share and continuing his representation of the constituency. In the 2021 Assembly election, the seat shifted to R. Siva, who contested as a DMK candidate and defeated the incumbent A. Namassivayam. His victory marked a major political shift in Villianur, bringing the constituency under DMK representation after years of Congress control. Aditi Anand is an undergraduate student of English at Miranda House, University of Delhi, with an interest in media and the shifting dynamics of public discourse. She is particularly curious about how narratives are shaped, circulated, and received in contemporary spaces. Her work is informed by close observation and an engagement with everyday life, often examining the intersections of personal experience and broader social contexts. She is drawn to questions of voice, representation, and the ways in which perception is influenced by both language and environment. Beyond the newsroom, she is interested in literature and enjoys writing poetry, approaching it as a space for reflection and creative exploration alongside her analytical work. Her writing aims to balance clarity with nuance, focusing on presenting ideas in a way that is accessible while still engaging with their complexity. She approaches writing with intent and attentiveness, aiming to contribute meaningfully to conversations while continuing to develop a voice that is thoughtful and grounded.Read More