Statehood will not be the right move for the Union Territory as it will mean that Puducherry will have to generate 70 per cent of its funds and the Centre will provide only 30 per cent funding. On the other hand, applying for a special status State will allow Puducherry to get 90 per cent funding from the Centre, Union Minister of State for Prime Minister’s Office and Congress MP candidate V. Narayanasamy said.
Addressing the press here on Sunday, Mr. Narayanasamy said that the Chief Minister and other political parties only wanted statehood because they wanted the authority and not because it was good for the people.
If the Union Territory wants any progress and growth, it would not be able to achieve it with statehood. On the other hand, if the Union Territory gets special statehood, it would get more funds from the Centre and have to provide only 10 per cent as funding from the State itself.
Speaking of election campaign, Mr. Narayanasamy said that Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi would be coming to Puducherry. The date would be announced later.
