NDA likely to get expanded in Puducherry

BJP in-charge for the Union Territory Nirmal Kumar Surana has said that his party was in the process of expanding the National Democratic Alliance for the Assembly polls in Puducherry.

“We [BJP] are in talks with at least two parties for Puducherry-specific expansion of the NDA. The talks with the parties are confined to the elections in the Union Territory. In all likelihood, the alliance will get expanded here,” he told The Hindu. 

Mr. Surana was in Puducherry to take part in the party’s election strategy meeting attended by BJP national general secretary (organisation) B. L. Santhosh on Sunday. 

In the 2021 Assembly elections, the electoral pact was mainly between AINRC, BJP and AIADMK in the NDA fold in the Union Territory. The AINRC had contested 16 seats leaving 14 to the BJP, which had shared 5 seats from its kitty to the AIADMK.

Asked whether Chief Minister and AINRC founder N. Rangasamy, who is also the chairman of the NDA in Puducherry, was consulted before talks with other parties, Mr. Surana said, “the Chief Minister is on board as all decisions are taken in consultation with him.”

To a query on whether last year’s formula for seat sharing will continue, the BJP in-charge said the alliance leaders were yet to meet and finalise. “The ability of the candidates to win will be the only factor. Parties could even end up exchanging seats considering factors favouring the party or the candidate. By the end of February, we may come up with the electoral plan for the region,” he said.

The Sunday’s meeting attended by Mr. Santhosh has drawn up a 60-day campaign plan for the polls in Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam regions of the Union Territory. “We held a detailed discussion on the plans till the polling day. We have a plan ready for all 30 Assembly constituencies for BJP as well as alliance party candidates,” he said. Home Minister A. Namassivayam and BJP president V. P. Ramalingam were present at the meeting.