Narendra Modi in Pondicherry: A New Political Formation emerges

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Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India, arrived in Pondicherry on a ne day visit. He was welcomed by the newly appointed Lt Governor Dr Tamilissai, who was once the President of Tamil Nadu BJP and now the Governor of Telengana. Addressing the public soon after he had inaugurated a slew of developmental projects, the Prime Minister lit into the dynastic politics and family oriented High Command culture of the Congress Party and its leadership in Pondicherry. He inaugurated a Blood Bank at JIPMER and laid the foundation of the Karaikal Centre of JIPMER, he announced the development of Minor Ports in Pndicherry under the Sagarmala Scheme and the inauguration of the IV laning of the Sattanthapuram to Nagapattinam Section of NH 32. And the most important of all the dedication of the rebuilt Hotel Marie to the Nation.

Narendra Modi did not mince words. He drew attention to the fact that a leader who to his own leader is not worth electing. This was in reference to the infamous video that went viral in which a woman who complained to Rahul Gandgi when he visited Pondicherry last week, saying that Narayanaswmy and his Government did not extend any help to those affected in the recent rains. This was conveyed to Rahul as though the woman was complimenting the Government for the splendid work done. Narayanaswamy like every petty courtier sought to take advantage of the ignorance of the languages of communication of both Rahuk Gandhi and the poor  woman. The Prime Minister also reminded the people of the slipper lifting episode in which Narayanaswamy picked up the slippers of Rahul Gandhi thereby demeaning himself and thus demonstrating his servility to the Crown Prince. Apart from these the Prime Minister also listed the several lapses on the part of the Narayanaswamy Government including the long delayed Panchayat Polls.

The BJP is making an all out effort to win Pondicherry. It is a fact that the Government of Pondicherry was absolutely inept partly because of the in ability of the Chief Minister to get along with Dr Kiran Bedi, the Lt Governor appointed by the Centre. He resorted to agitation against Dr Kiran Bedi twice but did not succeed in making any headway against the Lt Governor. Even on the contentious issue of the 3 nominated MLAs he lost as the Supreme Court held that the 3 MLAs had the same rights and privileges as any elected member. In fact over the four years he had been in power, Narayanaswamy took several of his disagreements with DR Bedi to Court and did not get relief in even a single case.  The frustration within the Congress became acute and several MLAs including the second in command, Shri Namasivayam resigned from the Party. And Narayanawsamy Government fell as it was reduced to a minority.  

What about the up coming Polls. There are 30 seats in all. The BJP will certainly win a few seats around 5 to 6 and along with the AIADMK and the NR Congress the NDA political Formation will end up with around 17 to 18 seats.  The importance of Pondicherry to the BJP is purely symbolic. It wants to post a credible  electoral performance ina Tamil speaking area. And in this the BJP will succeed.