PUDUCHERRY: Prime Minister Narendra Modi undertook a roadshow and campaigned for the candidates of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Friday, just five days before the Union territory of Puducherry heads to the polls on April 9. Modi landed at Puducherry airport at 4.15pm and reached the Atithi signal, where the roadshow kickstarted. He was greeted by All India NR Congress (AINRC) founder and chief minister N Rangasamy, home minister A Namassivayam (BJP) and BJP functionaries. Hundreds of people lined on both sides of the road to catch a glimpse of Modi.
Modi waved to the people, who showered his vehicle with flowers, raising slogans in support of NDA. The roadshow concluded at the Raja theatre signal, covering more than one km. It lasted around 40 minutes. The roadshow served as a moral booster for the NDA cadres that could help the alliance win a majority of seats, including the high-profile Thattanchavady constituency. The tiny tourist town was placed under a massive security blanket for Modi’s visit.It may be recalled that Modi on Monday interacted with the party cadres, urged them to work at the grassroots level and garner more votes for the party. He insisted that the cadres undertake a door-to-door campaign, meet every single voter and enlighten them on the alliance’s development vision for Puducherry. Modi, during his last visit to Puducherry on March 1, came down heavily on the Congress. The former Congress govt was marked by political instability, corruption, crime and suffering of the poor. Congress had made Puducherry an ATM for one family that sits in Delhi. Congress and DMK had become a speed-breaker in Puducherry’s development journey. “Now the same forces are hungry for power again. Should Puducherry go back to that era of corruption and crime? I am sure the people of Puducherry do not want that,” he said.AINRC, which leads the NDA, is contesting in 16 seats in the 30-member assembly, while the BJP is contesting in 10 and AIADMK and LJK two each. On the opposition side, Congress is contesting from 16 seats and DMK from 14. DMK allotted one seat to VCK from its quota. But VCK rejected the offer and decided to contest independently from three constituencies.
