On course to unseat Congress, All-India NR Congress-AIADMK combine was today looked set for a simple majority winning 11 constituencies and leading in five more in the elections to the 30-member Assembly in the Union Territory of Puducherry.
Steering his party to on impressive electoral debut, former Chief Minister N Rangasamy, who broke away from Congress to float his own outfit on poll eve, won both seats he contested.
Of the 24 seats for which results and trends were available at 2 pm, AINRC, which contested 17 seats, was ahead in five.
On the verge of defeat, Congress front including DMK managed to win six seats and was leading in two.
Rangasamy, who was replaced as Chief Minister by the party high command two years ago after a revolt by partymen including his cabinet colleagues, emerged victorious in Indira Nagar and Kadigamam constituencies.
Chief Minister V Vaithilingam, who succeeded Rangasamy, and Health Minister E Valsraj won Kamaraj Nagar and Mahe constituencies respectively but Welfare Minister M Kandasamy was trounced by AINRC rival R Rajavelu in Embalam.
PWD Minister M O H F Shajahan was trailing his nearest AINRC rival in Kalapet.