Among the many promises in the Congress manifesto, which was released today by Congress president Rahul Gandhi, was the full statehood to Puducherry.
In its manifesto, the Congress said that the Union Territory will get its long-standing demand of statehood if the grand old party comes to power. At the same time, the party did not promise the same for Delhi, which, too, has been demanding for full statehood.
“Congress promises full statehood to Puducherry,” read the 11th point under the head ‘Federalism and Centre-State Relations’ of the manifesto.
In the very next point, the Congress vowed to “amend the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991 to make it clear that the Lieutenant Governor shall act on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers except in matters concerning the 3 reserved subjects”.
Statehood for Puducherry has also been promised by other opposition political parties including Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) founder Kamal Haasan, who on Sunday said that he will secure statehood for Puducherry if the party candidate Dr MAS Subramanian was elected to the Lok Sabha.
Puducherry comprises four exclaves of former French India – Puducherry, Karikal, Mahé and Yanam – and has only one Lok Sabha seat.
Both Delhi and Puducherry enjoy partial statehood, which means they have an elected Chief Minister supported by a council of ministers.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who has been demanding full statehood, had last month also supported Puducherry’s demand for statehood.
Siding with Chief Minister V Narayanaswamy, a Congress leader, during his protest against Lt Governor Kiran Bedi, Kejriwal said that his government, too, is facing “exactly similar problems in Delhi”.
He said that the Lieutenant Governors in both Delhi and Puducherry were appointees of the BJP-led government at the Centre.