Tension Surfaces In Puducherry NDA As NR Congress Raises Demands On BJP
NR Congress objects to LJK entry, seeks statehood assurance from BJP.
Tensions have emerged within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Puducherry ahead of the upcoming assembly elections, with the ruling N R Congress pressing new demands that could complicate its alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party. The dispute centers on statehood assurances and disagreements over the inclusion of a smaller ally in the NDA fold.
The NR Congress is seeking a formal assurance from either Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Home Minister Amit Shah regarding the grant of full statehood to Puducherry, a long-standing demand that has gained renewed political urgency ahead of the polls. Party leaders have also voiced strong objections to the inclusion of the Latchiya Dravida Jananayaga Katchi (LJK), led by Charles Martin, citing his lack of roots in the Union Territory as politically unacceptable.
A senior NR Congress official told NDTV that the party had formally communicated its concerns to the BJP’s central leadership. “We have communicated this to the BJP’s seat-sharing team led by Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya. Our five-member delegation made our position very clear,” the official said, adding that Charles Martin “has nothing to do with Puducherry. We cannot allow this.” Martin, who once had ties with the BJP, has denied claims that LJK is a “B-team” of the party.
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The developments come days after the BJP and NR Congress had finalised a seat-sharing arrangement, with the NR Congress slated to contest 16 seats and the BJP 14 out of 30 in the assembly, which also has provisions for three nominated MLAs. Chief Minister N Rangasamy, head of the NR Congress, had recently appeared alongside both Modi and Shah at public events, projecting unity that now appears strained.
Current assembly numbers further heighten the stakes: NR Congress holds 10 seats, BJP 6, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam 6, Indian National Congress 2, and Independents 3. Analysts note that the NR Congress’ insistence on statehood guarantees and opposition to LJK’s inclusion places the “ball in BJP’s court,” testing the cohesion of the NDA alliance in the Union Territory.
The BJP’s Puducherry unit has not publicly responded, even as the standoff threatens to overshadow the NDA’s electoral strategy. Political observers say the coming days will be crucial in determining whether the alliance can reconcile differences or if the rift will reshape the campaign dynamics in the upcoming polls.
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