Amit Shah Levels Serious Allegations Against Congress in Puducherry
Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a scathing attack on the Congress party during a public meeting in Puducherry's Karaikal on Saturday, accusing former Chief Minister V Narayanasamy of transforming the Union territory into what he described as an "ATM for the Gandhi family." The senior BJP leader made these remarks as Puducherry prepares for upcoming assembly elections expected in April.
Allegations of Seat Selling and Corruption
Shah specifically alleged that the Narayanasamy administration engaged in systematic corruption by "openly auctioning" postgraduate and diploma seats in educational institutions. "They even sold the reserved seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to wealthy individuals for the sake of money," Shah told the gathering, painting a picture of an administration that prioritized financial gain over equitable access to education.
The BJP leader further claimed that transport mafias were given "free rein to trouble the public" during Narayanasamy's tenure as chief minister, which spanned from June 2016 to February 2021. Shah characterized this period as marked by "corruption and chaos" that he said the current BJP-All India NR Congress alliance government has worked diligently to eliminate since taking office.
Contrasting Governance Approaches
Shah drew a sharp contrast between the previous Congress administration and the current BJP-led government, asserting that while the Congress created "an environment of corruption and chaos" over five years, the BJP has focused on transforming that chaos into order. "Now it is time to transform Puducherry into a developed Puducherry in the next five years," he declared, outlining his party's vision for the Union territory's future.
The Home Minister emphasized what he sees as a fundamental shift in decision-making authority, stating: "Earlier, the decisions regarding Puducherry were taken by the Gandhi family in Delhi; now the decisions regarding Puducherry are being taken by Puducherry itself." This statement reflects the BJP's broader narrative of empowering local governance versus what they characterize as centralized control under Congress leadership.
Electoral Targets and Political Context
Looking ahead to the upcoming elections, Shah set an ambitious electoral target for the BJP-led alliance. Noting that the BJP-All India NR Congress alliance secured 44% of the vote in the 2021 Puducherry assembly elections, he announced a goal of reaching 60% in the forthcoming polls. This represents a significant increase that would demonstrate growing support for the current administration.
Shah connected local political developments to national leadership, praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi for working to "make India prosperous as well as secure." He expressed confidence that the people of Puducherry have shown trust in the National Democratic Alliance, the BJP, local leader N Rangaswamy, and PM Modi through their previous electoral support.
The political landscape in Puducherry has evolved since the 2021 elections, with the BJP now forming an alliance not only with the All India NR Congress but also with the AIADMK as they prepare to contest the upcoming polls together. This expanded coalition aims to consolidate anti-Congress votes and achieve the ambitious 60% vote share target set by the Union Home Minister.
As election season approaches in the Union territory, these allegations and counter-narratives about governance, corruption, and development are likely to dominate political discourse, with both major parties presenting contrasting visions for Puducherry's future trajectory.
