BJP keen on contesting lone Lok Sabha seat in Puducherry

PUDUCHERRY: The BJP, which formed a coalition government with the support of Congress splinter group All India NR Congress (AINRC) for the first time in the Union territory of Puducherry, has now evinced keen interest to contest the lone Lok Sabha seat to strengthen the party base in the territory.

The BJP-led NDA government at the Centre has been taking full advantage as UTs come under the direct control of the Union government and exerting pressure on its major alliance partner AINRC to get political mileage and advantage to gain roots in the territory. The BJP had earlier nominated three of its partymen as members of the legislative assembly and nominated a BJP loyalist as the Rajya Sabha MP.

BJP in-charge for Puducherry Nirmal Kumar Surana, who visited the territory a few days ago, chaired a meeting with the local BJP leaders to discuss in detail the prospects of contesting the Lok Sabha polls in alliance with the AINRC and other parties. But the meeting did not discuss the prospective candidates for the LS polls, said a party source.

“We have the support of 22 MLAs in the 30-member assembly. Yes, we discussed the strategies to be followed to successfully face the ensuing Lok Sabha polls. If given a chance we have the possibility of winning the Lok Sabha seat in Puducherry. The NDA leaders will take a call on BJP contesting the Puducherry Lok Sabha seat,” said Puducherry BJP president and Rajya Sabha MP S Selvaganapathy.

In the 30-member assembly, AINRC has 10 seats and its alliance partner BJP six. A record number of six independents were elected in the last assembly polls. On the opposition side, DMK won six and Congress two. There are three nominated MLAs. BJP last contested Lok Sabha polls in Puducherry in 2004 and its candidate Lalitha Kumaramangalam (1.72 lakh votes) lost to PMK candidate M Ramadoss (2.41 lakh votes).