Puducherry CM banks on welfare to win 5th term
‘Arivai tharuvathu booku, nallatchi tharuvathu jaggu,’ (Book gives knowledge, jug symbol that provides good governance) echoes the campaign slogan as AINRC cadres distribute pamphlets seeking support for Chief Minister N Rangasamy.
As the campaign for the April 9 Assembly polls peaks, cadres are in a rush and crisscross the lanes and bylanes of Thattanchavadi and Mangalam constituencies, where Rangasamy is contesting.
The AINRC-BJP Government is heavily banking on the popularity of the 75-year-old Rangasamy, famous as a simple man, to win polls and retain power.
The longest serving CM, who is in the race for a 5th term, in an interview to PTI, listed the welfare initiatives of his Government, including the distribution of free laptops to Class 11 and 12 students.
He said, “We are ready to do whatever is needed to support our children so that they learn well and make progress in life.”
Asked if the Rs 2,500 monthly financial assistance scheme for women will be expanded if his alliance wins polls and retains power, he said, “We are now providing the assistance to 73,000 women, and after winning the election, it will be provided to all those who need it; as such, there is no upper limit or ceiling.”
The cash aid for women is among the several initiatives and welfare measures the Rangasamy-led AINRC-BJP Government is banking on to win polls, besides the popularity of the 75-year-old chief minister.
At the same time, the AINRC leaders are busy meeting the people and explaining the “achievements” of their alliance government. They do not miss an opportunity to say that the NR Congress’ alliance with the BJP helps, as “you see we are getting infra-projects; be it the Rs 93 crore upgrade to the Puducherry railway station, the Rs 66 crore worth railway over bridge or the proposed Rs 1,931 crore Tindivanam-Puducherry-Cuddalore railway line.”
The party workers also highlighted that a 50 per cent rebate in stamp duty is provided when properties are registered through a sale deed, exchange or gift in the name of a woman.
Assistance of Rs 3,000 per month for the differently-abled, education cash assistance for SC/ST students and others, fishing ban period assistance of Rs 5,000, assistance for each ration card as Fengal cyclone relief, and a range of similar assistance, including those intended for BPL families and those availing Old Age pension, are prominently highlighted by the ruling NR Congress.
“Our Government provides 10 per cent reservation in medical courses for Government and state-aided school students. Does any other Government anywhere in the country provide so much? Even Tamil Nadu provides only 7.5 per cent quota,” said S Saravanan, a party worker, adding that such a quota will cover all courses soon.
He also said the Government provided Rs 1,000 each (DBT-Direct Benefit Transfer) to students of state-run schools to buy a book bag and shoes.
While the ruling party relies on implementing promises such as ensuring the reopening of fair price shops and providing free rice to beneficiaries ranging from 10 kg (for yellow-type priority households) to 20 kg (for red category, high priority households), there are several other issues.
While opposition parties level corruption allegations, mainly highlighting the fake medicines case, local people have other woes.
Prithivirasan cited a litany of civic woes and “employment problems.” The ruling party, however, said the union territory has grown and posted an economic growth of 8.81 per cent during 2024-25.
On the alleged counterfeit drugs manufacturing scam involving supplies to 8 states, Rangasamy said, “The matter is under investigation, the CBI is seized of it, and I do not think it will be appropriate to comment on a subject that is under investigation.”
On his rival, ex-chief minister and Puducherry Congress Committee chief Ve Vaithilingam’s hectic campaign in Thattanchavadi constituency and the grand old party’s confidence of winning there, he said: “Vaithilingam is a Lok Sabha MP. He was elected only in 2024.”
Vaithilingam’s term extends till 2029, and when that is the case, what was the need for him to enter Union territory politics, wondered the chief minister. “I do not know if there is any other chief minister candidate in the Congress party. Moreover, see the confusion within the Congress.”
Rangasamy referred to the 6 Congress nominees declining to withdraw their candidature, earning the wrath of the alliance partner DMK.
“There is so much confusion in the alliance. Vaithilingam has deceived his partymen and the alliance as well.”
The chief minister questioned the track record of the previous Congress-led Government and outlined the performance of his regime.
“We have given employment in the Government sector alone for 5,000 youths, and we gave Rs 3,000 cash gift (to each of the 3.47 lakh families under the PDS) to ration card holders,” the chief minister said and asked if the previous Congress party-led regime could list their achievements.
To a question on unsuccessful attempts to secure statehood, Rangasamy said, “We will continue to fight for statehood to Puducherry, we will not give up.
