Gearing the cadre for the general elections due next year, AICC in charge of Puducherry, G. Chinna Reddy has asked Congress party leaders and cadre to work for securing at least 20 out of the total 30 Assembly seats in the Union Territory.
Speaking at the extended executive committee meeting of the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) here on Saturday, he said that the time had come for the party to launch an extensive campaign against the failure of the ruling AINRC government and ensure that the Congress rule was restored in 2016.
“Elections are hardly 10 months away. There should be total unity in the party and we should have a programme to fight the ruling AINRC government. We should win 20 of the total 30 Assembly seats to form our government in 2016”.
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Mr. Reddy said the AINRC government was a total failure. There is no governance and Law and Order is in shambles. The government is unable to pay salaries and even pension to retired employees.
While the plan budget has been increasing in every state it is in the reverse in Puducherry. People should compare the previous Congress government with the present regime and take a decision to vote for the party to ensure all round development.
Highlighting the failure of the Narendra Modi led BJP government at the Centre, he said that the image of Mr. Modi was also on the wane since he had failed to prevent corruption and implement poll promises.
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Corruption
The BJP ruled states were also reeling under corruption and it is embarrassing that Mr. Modi was keeping quiet.
Mr. Reddy called upon all leaders in the party to establish contact with the cadres and galvanise their support. He also wanted the formation of Block Congress Committees (BCC) in Bahour and Yanam and said that the enrolment of new members should be completed by August end.
Expressing shock over the absence of three MLAs he said that they should have been present and participated in the deliberations.
Former Union Minister for State V. Narayanasamy said the Government should evolve a new liquor policy in the Union Territory to regulate the granting of licenses.
Making it clear that he was not asking for prohibition, he said the government was permitting opening of new liquor shops without any criterion causing hindrance to residents.
Mr. Narayanasamy also demanded the resignation of Union Ministers Sushma Swaraj, Smriti Irani, Pankaja Munde and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in connection with the corruption charges levelled against them.
He said the BJP would soon dislodge Mr. Modi from seat of power as the situation was becoming worse in the BJP camp.
Leader of Opposition V. Vaithilingam said that five states including Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal and Assam were scheduled to go for polls early next year.
Party cadres should work hard to ensure a comprehensive victory for the party and Puducherry should be the first state in the Congress’s kitty, he said.
PCC president A. Namassivayam said that he would meet all the leaders and ensure that the party is strengthened to face the challenges.