In the April 9 election in Puducherry, the ruling NDA of the AINRC and BJP is taking on the Congress-DMK coalition and actor Vijay’s TVK. As the campaigning takes off in full swing, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge is visiting on Saturdaywhile leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi is expected to visit the Union Territory soon. “There is a big reaction in the state against the ruling alliance for having duped them in the elections,” Wasnik told ET. “Corruption is so rampant (in Puducherry). People talk about (having to pay a) 30% (bribe) and no less for every single government contract. Liquor licences are being sold… Even in the issuance of ration cards, people are talking about ₹15,000 being charged for a ration card.”
The Congress MP lashed out at the ruling alliance for not delivering on its “tall promises” and said Puducherry had declined steeply on multiple parameters. He cited substance abuse, corruption, the lack of industrial development and unemployment among the most pressing issues. Wasnik also said that Puducherry’s long standing appeal for statehood and the AINRC-BJP alliance’s failure to fulfil the demand would be a key factor in swaying votes in favour of the Congress-DMK coalition.
He said the process is structured in such a way that if two parties fight an election and one gets 16 seats while another gets 14, the party with the lower number of seats can still potentially form the government if it has the backing of the Centre. Puducherry’s 33-member legislative assembly includes 30 elected seats while three members are nominated by the Centre. Thus, he said that even though the people may have voted for the other party, the Centre can prop up the party it wants to power.
“This is utter disregard of the people of Puducherry and this is the manner in which the BJP has been functioning,” Wasnik said.He also slammed Puducherry chief minister and AINRC founder-president N Rangasamy, asking whether he would keep his word about boycotting elections if the demand for statehood was not accepted.”But the chief minister also conveniently changes his colours,” Wasnik said. “I don’t know how he does that, but he has that art of changing colour again and again. But I think this time the people of Puducherry will not fall prey to his tactics.”
He also criticised the BJP-led Union government’s move to amend the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) and its way of handling such affairs.
