The Puducherry leadership of the Congress has put forth the name of sitting Member of Lok Sabha V. Vaithilingam as the party’s candidate for the upcoming Parliamentary polls from the Puducherry seat. Former Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy announced the proposal during a press conference, citing Vaithilingam’s winnability and the absence of complaints against him.
Narayanasamy also criticized Chief Minister N. Rangasamy, accusing him of surrendering to the alliance partner BJP to protect his position. He claimed that the AINRC had already conceded the nominated MLAs post and Rajya Sabha seat to the BJP. Narayanasamy alleged that the Chief Minister had now given the Lok Sabha seat to the BJP, and the party was searching for candidates, even considering individuals from outside the Union Territory.
When asked about the possibility of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi contesting from the seat, Narayanasamy stated that as a national leader, he couldn’t object, acknowledging Rahul Gandhi’s status in the party. The former Chief Minister believes that the Parliamentary polls present an opportunity for the people of Puducherry to express their dissatisfaction with the AINRC-BJP alliance, which, according to him, has failed to fulfill its promises.
Narayanasamy also demanded an explanation from the Chief Minister regarding the controversy surrounding the construction of the new Assembly complex. He expressed concerns about the projected cost of the project, amounting to ₹620 crore, questioning the justification for such expenditure in a small territory with 30 legislators.
