'Didn’t grant statehood to Puducherry': Vijay slams BJP, Congress ahead of polls

NEW DELHI: Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay on Saturday criticised both the BJP and Congress for failing to grant statehood to Puducherry despite ruling at the Centre for years.“Neither Congress nor BJP could give statehood to Puducherry despite holding power at the Centre. A TVK government will make a 100% effort to secure full statehood legally, free from interference by the lieutenant governor,” Vijay said at an election rally in the poll-bound Union territory. Puducherry, a former French colony, officially merged with India in 1962 and was granted Union territory status the following year. It is administered by a lieutenant governor appointed by the President on the Centre’s recommendation, while the elected regional government has limited powers—fuelling a long-standing demand for full statehood. Meanwhile, the actor-politician also urged voters to support TVK’s “whistle” symbol to usher in a “one-finger revolution,” an apparent reference to a dialogue from one of his films.Vijay took a swipe at both major alliances in the region. “The ruling All India NR Congress (AINRC)-BJP combine is an exhausted alliance. Just like in Tamil Nadu, the opposition DMK-Congress alliance in Puducherry is a confused one,” the Tamil superstar, popularly known as “Thalapathy" (leader), added. He also introduced TVK’s candidates, describing them as leaders who “stand with the people,” and outlined a series of welfare promises. These include:The party, launched in February 2024, is contesting 28 of the 30 constituencies, with ally Neyam Makkal Kazhagam (NMK) set to field candidates in the remaining two seats. The Puducherry legislative assembly has 33 members, of which 30 are elected and three are nominated by the Union government. Voting for the 30 seats will be held on April 9, with over 9.4 lakh voters set to decide the fate of 294 candidates. Counting of votes is scheduled for May 4, alongside assembly election results in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal, which are voting around the same period as Puducherry.