Puducherry
The defeat of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Parliamentary polls in Puducherry has been attributed by the opposition to the perceived corrupt and anti-people governance of the AINRC-BJP coalition ministry. Congress candidate V Vaithilingam secured victory in the sole seat of the union territory, clinching a significant lead of 1,36,616 votes over his BJP rival and Puducherry Home Minister A Namassivayam. Following the announcement of the poll result, senior Congress leader and former CM V Narayanasamy highlighted the dissatisfaction among the people with the Rangasamy-led coalition ministry’s performance, emphasizing alleged corruption within the administration as a major factor leading to the BJP’s defeat.
The Congress has expressed concerns over the wavering policies and perceived anti-people stance of the government, pointing out issues such as the closure of fair price shops, the proliferation of resto-bars, and plans for the privatization of electricity distribution. Additionally, criticism has been directed towards the GST implementation, perceived as a burden for the business community and consumers. Unemployment and the lack of job creation initiatives have also been cited as contributing factors to the BJP’s defeat. Vaithilingam, a veteran politician and former Chief Minister of Puducherry, highlighted concerns over rising drug abuse among youth, emphasizing the need for urgent action to address the issue. With Vaithilingam’s victory, questions arise about the stability of the Rangasamy-led coalition ministry and the future direction of governance in Puducherry.
