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Rahul Gandhi Urges Puducherry Voters for Congress Mandate, Promises Statehood

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has appealed to Puducherry voters to give the party a strong mandate in the assembly polls. He framed the election as an ideological battle between the Congress's message of unity and the BJP's politics of division. Key promises from the Congress manifesto include free bus travel for women and a ₹20 lakh health insurance scheme for families. Polling in the Union Territory is scheduled for April 9.

Key Points: Rahul Gandhi's Appeal for Congress in Puducherry Assembly Polls

  • Promise of statehood for Puducherry
  • Free bus travel for women
  • ₹20 lakh health insurance per family
  • Accusation of BJP spreading hatred
  • Call for an overwhelming Congress majority
3 min read

"Vote for a Puducherry run by its own people": Rahul Gandhi urges voters to vote for Congress ahead of assembly polls

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi promises statehood, free bus travel for women, and health insurance in a direct appeal to Puducherry voters ahead of polls.

"We want Puducherry to be run from Puducherry by the people of Puducherry. - Rahul Gandhi"

New Delhi, April 8

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday urged the voters of Puducherry to award the party a huge mandate in the assembly polls, assuring development of the Union Territory, including statehood.

In a self-recorded video on X, the Congress leader urged the voters to "vote for a Puducherry run by its own people, your vote is your power."

Describing the assembly polls as "an ideological battle," Gandhi accused the BJP of spreading "violence, hatred and anger," while stating that the Congress spreads "love, affection and unity."

"The Indian Constitution guarantees representation to all its people. And one of the unfortunate facts about Pondicherry is that you're not given the representation and the level of representation that you should be given. You're run by the Lieutenant Governor, who essentially is a king, and you're run from Delhi. We don't want you to be run from Delhi. We want Puducherry to be run from Puducherry by the people of Puducherry," he said.

"We are committed to statehood for Puducherry and we are also going to do panchayat elections as soon as possible, within six months of getting elected. This is an ideological battle. It is a battle between the division, the hatred, the venom that the RSS and the BJP spread. On one side you have the hatred, the violence and the anger being spread by the BJP. On the other side you have the love, affection, unity that the Congress alliance always focuses on spreading," he added.

The Congress leader further reflected on the key promises made by the party in its election manifesto for the Puducherry polls, including free bus travel for women and better health insurance schemes.

"Please wholeheartedly support the Congress party in Puducherry. As you must have seen in our manifesto, we have some very powerful ideas for the future of Pondicherry. We are going to make bus travel across Pondicherry free for all the women of Puducherry. We are going to give you a brand-new health insurance scheme that is going to protect you from any medical eventuality. You're going to have ₹20 lakh health insurance per family guaranteed by the Government of Pondicherry," he said.

"Please vote for the Congress party, give us an overwhelming majority in the Vidhan Sabha so we can start working for the people of Puducherry," the Congress leader urged.

Polling in Puducherry is scheduled to be held on April 9, while the counting of votes will take place on May 4.

In Puducherry, the contest involves the ruling NDA, which includes NR Congress and BJP and the Congress-DMK alliance. Actor Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) is seeking to make it triangular.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rajesh Q
Good to see focus on Puducherry's development. The ₹20 lakh health insurance promise is a big deal for middle-class families. But I wish the speech had more concrete plans for job creation and tourism, which are key for the UT's economy. Hope they deliver.
A
Arun Y
While the sentiment of local governance is correct, framing everything as an "ideological battle" feels like typical political rhetoric. Puducherry needs solutions, not just slogans about love vs hate. Let's see which alliance actually has a better administrative roadmap.
S
Sarah B
As someone who has visited Puducherry often, its unique Franco-Tamil culture deserves a government that understands its local needs. Promises are easy before elections. The real test is performance after winning. Hope voters choose wisely.
K
Karthik V
The promise of panchayat elections within six months is crucial for grassroots democracy. For too long, development has been centralised. Empowering local bodies can transform villages in Puducherry. This is a positive step.
N
Nisha Z
Free bus travel for women is a fantastic initiative that has worked well in other states like Tamil Nadu. It provides safety, mobility, and economic freedom. More parties should focus on such practical welfare measures. All the best to Puducherry voters!

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