Puducherry Assembly passes Rs 5,396 Cr vote on account ahead of 2026 elections

The Puducherry Legislative Assembly on Thursday passed the Appropriation (Vote on Account) Bill through a voice vote, approving an expenditure of Rs 5,396 crore to meet government expenses for the first five months of the 2026-27 financial year .

The bill was tabled by Chief Minister N Rangasamy , who also holds the Finance portfolio. Since the Union Territory is expected to go to the polls in 2026, the government refrained from presenting a full-fledged budget.

The current Assembly, elected in 2021, is scheduled to complete its five-year term in mid-2026 , with elections likely to be held around April-May 2026 , in line with constitutional provisions.

After completing the scheduled business, the House was adjourned sine die . The one-day session lasted about two and a half hours .

Speaker R Selvam paid tribute to departed leaders and dignitaries through obituary references. Members observed silence in memory of former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and former Madras High Court judge David Annousamy , a native of Puducherry.

Puducherry is a Union Territory with a legislature, governed under Article 239A of the Constitution . It has an elected Legislative Assembly and a Council of Ministers headed by the Chief Minister , while a centrally appointed Lieutenant Governor represents the President of India and plays a key role in the Union Territory’s administration.

The Union Territory comprises four geographically separated regions Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe, and Yanam and functions under a unique hybrid system of governance involving both elected representatives and the Union Government.

The Vote on Account ensures continuity of administration until a new government is formed after the forthcoming Assembly elections.