Rahul Gandhi Pledges Puducherry Statehood at Rally

Puducherry, April 6, 2026 – Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, pledged full statehood for Puducherry and outlined welfare measures for unemployed youth and women during a public rally in Lawspet on Monday, as campaigning heated up ahead of the April 9 assembly elections.

Gandhi accused the ruling All India N.R. Congress-Bharatiya Janata Party coalition of running the union territory under remote control from New Delhi, bypassing local aspirations. "The government here does not reflect the will of the people," he said, alleging that the lieutenant governor overrides public expression. He criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party for failing to deliver on its promise of statehood, claiming the administration prioritizes corporate interests, including handing the strategic Karaikal Port to Adani Enterprises and attempting to privatize the electricity department to the same company.

In a sharp attack on governance, Gandhi highlighted alleged corruption, including a 30 percent commission on all contracts and the proliferation of liquor outlets near schools despite resident complaints. He described Puducherry as a hub for counterfeit drug...