After the sudden yet spectacular fall of the Congress government in Puducherry, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the union territory for the first time to inaugurate a slew of infrastructure projects. However, after gifting the state with some major infrastructure projects, the PM came down heavily on the V Narayanasamy-led former Congress government and gave an indication that Puducherry was going to be BJP’s gateway to unlocking South India and especially Tamil Nadu, in the coming elections.
We want Puducherry to be the BEST.
Business hub.
Education hub.
Spiritual hub.
Tourism hub. pic.twitter.com/2kurjoLKoQ
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 25, 2021
“What I am seeing here today — the energy and enthusiasm — is wonderful. It shows how the direction of the wind is changing in Puducherry,” said PM Modi at the rally where he further added “In 2016, Puducherry didn’t get a people’s government. They got a government that was busy serving the Congress high command in Delhi, their priorities were different. Your former CM was an expert in lifting the slippers of his top party leaders,”
#WATCH In Puducherry, PM Modi says, "If you ask me to share my manifesto for Puducherry, I will say – I want Puducherry to be the Best. NDA wants to make Puducherry the BEST. By BEST, I mean — B for business hub, E for education hub, S for spiritual hub, and T for tourism hub". pic.twitter.com/jOgmnG0CG2
— ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2021
Read more: The significance of PM Modi’s visit to Puducherry
Evoking the sad state of affairs of the economy of the UT, PM Modi reminded the public of Congress’ motto of only working for the Gandhi family and not the public. “The high command Congress government in Puducherry made it a point to damage every sector of governance. Traditional mills closed. Local industry was troubled. Congress doesn’t believe in working for the people,” PM Modi said.
Read more: With Puducherry bastion falling, South India has become Congress-mukt
It is pertinent to note that BJP is confidently entering the electoral battleground of Puducherry – which goes to polls along with the four states of West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu in April-May this year.
Only earlier this week, the Gandhi prince, whose party was stripped off power in Puducherry, had claimed that the politics of South India was much more refreshing than that witnessed in the North (where the BJP dominates). As such, Rahul Gandhi had taken to politically dividing North and South Indians, calling the choices of the latter group rather comprehensive and mature.
After dominating the politics of northern India where BJP has bulldozed its way through, the saffron party is now looking to make deep inroads in the southward region where Dravidian, as well as left parties, still call the shots.
BJP’s desire to win the south was evident in the recent Greater Hyderabad Municipal council elctions polls where the party unloaded biggies and stalwarts to change the narrative. From Amit Shah to JP Nadda to Yogi Adityanath–BJP went all out to give the Municipal elections, the same priority as any assembly or national election.
“Give one chance to the BJP in the GHMC elections. We shall transform from dynasty rule to democratic rule, from corruption to good governance, from secrecy to transparency. We shall transform Hyderabad into a Mini Bharat and not be stuck in Nawabi and Nizami culture,” Shah had said after one of his roadshows in the city.
Thus one can only assume in the coming days, as the election dates approach closer, BJP will unleash its full arsenal to get its toe into the South India politics by winning Puducherry and eventually set the roadmap for the future victories in bigger states such as Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Unlike Congress, BJP is moving ahead methodically by taking baby steps to reach its ultimate goal while the dynast party continues on its merry ways of self-immolation. The EC has not yet announced the dates of the elections but PM Modi and his party have swung into action already.
