The party already governing Puducherry held on to power, just short of a majority.

The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam won 14 of the seats on offer.

Its vote share — the slice of all ballots cast that went to one party or candidate — came to 31.0%.

This was also the first election here for a newly formed party, which arrived as runner-up in its very first contest.

The Janata Party won 7 seats.

That left it just behind the ADK.

Even so, it was a hung house — a result where no single party wins enough seats to govern alone — short of the 16-seat mark.

A few numbers from that election stand out.

The closest race was in Mahe, Puducherry, decided by a margin of just 12 votes — how far ahead the winner finished, over whoever came second.

At the other extreme, Thattanchavady, Puducherry produced the widest margin of the night, with the winner ahead by 31.1% of the vote.

Turnout — the share of registered voters who actually cast a ballot — peaked at 85.2% in Mannadipeth, Puducherry.

It was lowest in Raj Bhavan, Puducherry, at 56.8%.

Puducherry's contests have long tracked the rivalry between Congress and Tamil Nadu's Dravidian parties next door.