As Puducherry gears up for voting this Friday, following the commencement of the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections, the ongoing verbal sparring between the BJP and the Congress on issues such as the pending full statehood for the Union Territory will be the main focus, awaiting resolution through the electorate’s decision.
The BJP leaders, in their campaign, criticised the Congress for its inaction regarding Puducherry’s full statehood during its tenure at the Centre. In response, the Congress highlighted its manifesto pledge to grant full statehood.
Although neither party seems overly committed to pursuing the statehood demand, the political jabs continue unabated on various fronts throughout the campaign. BJP’s candidate Namassivayam and party president Selvaganabathy have been particularly vocal on this issue.
The Congress, led by national president Mallikarjun Kharge, reiterated its promise of full statehood during a recent public meeting in the UT, contrasting it with the absence of this promise in the BJP’s manifesto.
Former Puducherry CM Narayanasamy, a senior Congress leader, pledged to prioritize the achievement of full statehood for Puducherry if elected.
Polling for all 39 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu and the lone Puducherry constituency will occur on April 19, marking the beginning of the seven-phase election process, which will culminate in vote counting on June 4.