Puducherry: What’s happening between Rangasamy and BJP?

Compared to the four major states going to polls alongside it, the Union Territory of Puducherry has just about 9.44 lakh voters and a 30-member Assembly. However, the political drama and confabulations there have been no less. Till Friday morning—just three days before the last date of filing nominations on Monday for the April 9 elections—the situation remained fluid, though BJP sources insisted that all was well within the NDA alliance, pointing to Chief Minister N Rangasamy’s statement.

Amid speculation that the All India N.R. Congress (AINRC) might exit the NDA alliance, Rangasamy on Friday was quoted as saying that the alliance with the BJP had been sealed and that seat-sharing will be confirmed before the nomination deadline. In other words, Rangasamy—who had earlier signalled that he might exit the NDA and form an alliance with actor Vijay’s party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, or some other party—will continue to lead the NDA alliance in the upcoming Assembly elections.

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Monday is the final day for filing nominations in Puducherry, and not just the NDA; apparently, the INDIA bloc is also facing seat-sharing issues.

Following the buzz that Rangasamy was in touch with other parties—including the the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Congress—ally BJP rushed its election in-charge, Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, to Puducherry to sort out issues. However, Rangasamy, who was in neighbouring Tamil Nadu visiting temples to seek blessings, had reportedly nominated a team led by Tourism Minister K. Lakshminarayanan to hold the talks.

“Rangasamy had become almost inaccessible despite efforts by the BJP to hold alliance discussions. It was then that Mandaviya was dispatched on Thursday. But the CM being out of the state at such a crucial time indicates that he is bargaining unless all his conditions are met,” sources said.

The fact is, if Rangasamy exits the NDA, it could open several other possibilities. Apparently, the DMK has also been asking him to leave the BJP, and so has the Congress, keeping in mind their past association.

Sources said that Rangasamy wants a firm assurance from the BJP’s top leadership on granting full statehood to Puducherry—his long-pending demand. Rangasamy, who has shared the stage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to signal unity within the alliance, has consistently been pressing for statehood.

The party is also objecting to the Latchiya Dravida Jananayaga Katchi, led by Charles Martin, son of a lottery baron Santiago Martin, joining the NDA. “LJK is seen as BJP’s ‘B-team’ and given what happened with the United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) in Assam—where the BJP replaced it with the BPF—AINRC needs to hedge its options,” sources said.

Meanwhile, according to the seat-sharing agreement, the AINRC would contest 16 seats and the BJP 14 in the 30-member Assembly, which also has a provision for three nominated MLAs.