The Congress-DMK alliance won 17 seats in the 30-seat Puducherry Assembly and is set to form the government in the UnionTerritory. With 15 seats, the Congress will elect the leader of the Legislature Party to be sworn in as Chief Minister by next week. Sources in the party said the party high command would depute a general secretary or observer to conduct a meeting of the CLP to choose the Chief Minister shortly. Then, in consultation with DMK leaders, a CLP leader would be chosen, they added.
Congress cadres took to the streets celebrating the victory by bursting crackers and distributing sweets to the public.
‘Anti-incumbency wave’
Elected legislators went around the constituencies thanking the voters. Pradesh Congress Committee president A. Namassivayam thanked Congress and DMK cadre who worked for the victory of the alliance.
“We thank the people of Puducherry who voted for us. We will live up to their expectation and fulfil their aspirations,” said Mr. Namassivayam.
Senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister V. Vaithilingam, who has been re-elected from Kamaraj Nagar, told The Hindu , “People voted for us reposing strong confidence in Congress president Sonia Gandhi. The strong anti-incumbency factor against the ruling AINRC worked in our favour. We will implement all the promises we have made and will meet the expectations of people.”
Union Minister V Narayanasamy said the Puducherry verdict was a clear indication that people were “fed up” with the AINRC administration
