New Delhi: As campaigning for the Puducherry Assembly elections intensifies, the Congress has laid out a broad roadmap for welfare and governance, focusing on employment, social security and complete statehood of the Union Territory.MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha speaks at election rally in Rauspet Rahul Gandhi Reiterating the party’s key commitments, he said: “We are committed to granting full statehood to Puducherry.”He claimed that the current government in the Union Territory did not reflect the will of the people but was “imposed by Delhi”.
What did Congress announce?
Congress announced a series of measures aimed at boosting employment and easing financial pressure on households. The party promised to provide financial assistance of Rs 2,000 per month to unemployed youth and create 30,000 new jobs in the public and private sectors.Focusing on women’s welfare, the party promised to provide free bus travel to women in Puducherry. It also proposes to relax the upper age limit for government work to 40 years old, aiming to expand employment opportunities.In the healthcare sector, Congress has promised to provide comprehensive insurance coverage of Rs 20 lakh to every family in Union Territories.In addition to welfare measures, the party has also emphasized governance reforms. It assured that local body elections would be held within six months of coming to power while reiterating its long-standing demand for full statehood for Puducherry.Rahul Gandhi targeted the Bharatiya Janata Party, accusing it of failing to fulfill its promise to grant statehood and claiming that the United Emirates was run through “remote control” thereby marginalizing local leadership.He also raised corruption charges, claiming “a 30% commission is charged on all contracts” and that the government had become a “debt collection agent”.Urging voters to support the Congress and its alliance partners, Rahul Gandhi said the party’s aim is to form a government that truly represents the voice of the people of Puducherry.The Puducherry Assembly elections will be held on April 9 in a single phase for 30 seats, with counting of votes scheduled for May 4. The term of the current parliament will expire on June 15.
