Though the major parties have announced their candidates for the Puducherry constituency, the campaign is yet to gain momentum.
While the Congress has fielded sitting Member of Parliament and Union Minister of State in Prime Minister’s Office V. Narayanasamy in Puducherry, All India N.R. Congress (AINRC) has announced R. Radhakrishnan, former Speaker of the Territorial Assembly, as its candidate. The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam have nominated M.V. Omalingam and A.M.H. Nazeem respectively.
Mr. Omalingam was the first to hit the campaign trial. He launched his campaign about 10 days ago, along with other candidates of AIADMK in Tamil Nadu.
But, the campaign fever has not gripped the election field as couple of parties yet to finalise their strategies and alliances. However, the candidates have already started meeting influential leaders.
As regards the Congress, its candidate Mr. Narayanasamy has kick-started the process of meeting the office-bearers of the party, important persons, influential leaders of various groups in various Assembly segments of Karaikal and Puducherry. Within hours of reaching Puducherry from New Delhi after ensuring his name in the second list of Congress party, Mr. Narayanasamy went to Karaikal and met various leaders.
On Saturday, he addressed a meeting of “Mahila Congress” at the party office and exhorted women leaders to carry door-to-door campaign, talking about achievements of the Congress.
Asking them to be confident in facing the elections, Mr. Narayanasamy said the Congress was the strong and largest party in Puducherry and it was in full strength. It could definitely touch the winning rope in Puducherry.
The AINRC, which announced its candidate even before the Congress, is yet to introduce Mr. Radhakrishnan publicly, although he is meeting Members of Legislative Assembly and others to seek their support.
Non-conclusionThe non-conclusion of alliance talk in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is cited as the reason for the AINRC to follow the “wait and watch” approach in starting the campaign.
Stating that the BJP was expected to announce the seat allotment details anytime, AINRC sources said it would hold meeting with all leaders immediately after the announcement.
The DMK has been conducting party workers’ meeting to introduce its candidate to the cadre.
It held a meeting here on Saturday to motivate workers. MAS Subramanian, Puducherry organiser, said the party would complete the process of conducting workers’ meeting in all 23 constituencies in Puducherry by Saturday.
Mr. Omalingam is also visiting various constituencies in Puducherry and Karaikal to meet party workers.
