Puducherry will be granted statehood when Rahul Gandhi becomes PM, Mallikarjun Kharge says

PUDUCHERRY: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday promised that if the INDIA block forms the govt, it will provide free groceries worth ₹2,500 every month and secure full statehood for the Union territory.Addressing a public meeting organised by the Puducherry Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) on Saturday in Puducherry, Kharge promised that the long-standing demand of statehood would be granted once the leader of the opposition of the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, becomes the prime minister. This will end the interference of the lieutenant governor in elected government, he said.The party promised free and complete education from primary school to research levels.

Furthermore, the party promised a monthly scholarship of Rs 2,000 to students in both govt and private colleges. The party would provide a subsidy for gold for the thali (mangalsutra) to support families amidst rising costs of gold, he said.He labelled the NDA regime a "30% commission govt," alleging that corruption had stalled all meaningful development in the state. He accused NDA of looting temple land and public assets worth several crores of rupees.

He further alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s "zero tolerance" for corruption was a facade, while major infrastructure like ports and airports were being handed over to private players.Kharge slammed the govt for opening more than 450 restaurants and bars in five years while failing to provide clean drinking water. He questioned whether NDA intended to turn Puducherry into a liquor-driven economy, citing plans for six new liquor factories despite a drinking water crisis.

He said the double-engine govt was responsible for the rampant drug menace and the collapse of law and order.Kharge reminded the people that the infrastructure Puducherry enjoys today, including major hospitals like Jipmer and Indira Gandhi govt medical college, was established under the Congress regime. He accused the BJP of simply "pasting stickers" on existing Congress schemes and claiming them as new. "This election is a fight between neglect and responsibility, between a puppet govt and a strong Congress administration," Kharge concluded, urging voters to oust the "corrupt" regime.