BJP seeks ally as Puducherry goes to poll

Puducherry goes to poll on the 16th of May to elect its 30 Members of Legislative Assembly. With the announcement of the election date the political atmosphere in the Union Territory has changed completely. Here is a look at the major developments in happening in the Union Territory since the announcement of poll date:

Fishermen want to boycott the poll:

Fishermen belonging to coastal areas have threatened to boycott the assembly poll unless the Union Government steps in and helps in release of fishermen and their boats arrested by Sri Lanka. The deadline given for the same by fishermen is 15th of April.

Various fishermen association leaders met and have come to this decision. Fishermen's Association President Rajendran was reported to have said that in the year 2015 Sri Lanka has arrested around 70 fishermen of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

Also Sri Lanka has captured around 90 boats belonging to Indian fishermen. The president of Fishermen's Association was also quoted to have said that the boats cost anywhere between Rs. 5 to Rs. 30 lakh depending on the size of the boat.

The Fishermen's Association President has also threatened to launch agitations if the Union Government doesn't help in release of fishermen and the boats.

AIADMK doesn't criticise AINRC government:

MLAs belonging to AIADMK have refrained from criticising AINRC government in the Union Territory as it is interested in forging an alliance with Rangasamy's party.

AIADMK had become a fierce rival of N Rangasamy but during the last day of the 13th Assembly didn't show rivalry with the CM. For CM Rangasamy too this is good proposition in the sense that renewed ties with AIADMK during the Rajya Sabha candidature helped AINRC when the government's Chief Whip G Nehru resigned from the post along with four other legislators.

AIADMK by keeping silent has opened up an opportunity of forging an alliance with the ruling party. Meanwhile AIADMK leaders dismissed the party's easy stand with regards to the government as one off incident.

The age of coalition politics is yet far from over.

BJP interviews ticket seekers:

Puducherry unit of the Bharathiya Janata Party recently began interviewing aspirants who want to contest Puducherry Assembly Election on the party ticket.
The election slated for the 16th of May attracted applications from 142 aspirants from Puducherry, Oulgaret, Ariyankuppam, Villianur, Puducherry (suburb), Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam.

The ticket seekers were interviewed by Puducherry president of BJP, V Saminathan. He was assisted by former state presidents of BJP Visweswaran, Kesavalu, Damodaran as well as general secretaries Thangavikraman and Ravichandran.

On day one 45 ticket seekers from Puducherry town and Oulgaret were scrutinised. Next day ticket aspirants from Puducherry (suburb), Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam were interviewed.

BJP trying to get an ally:

BJP is yet to get an ally in Puducherry. Tough through Union Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu the party has expressed its desire to from an alliance. When Union Urban Development Minister visited Puducherry recently he had expressed the desire to form an alliance at a public forum.

For 2014 Lok Sabha election BJP was able to forge an alliance with AINRC and the NDA candidate R Radhakrishnan had won the election. He belongs to AINRC.
Post which BJP Puducherry state president M Visweswaran was appointed as a nominated MLA to Puducherry Assembly.

AINRC has as yet shown no interest in carrying ahead with the alliance that was done for 2014 election. This move by AINRC has led to the talks doing round that the party may be more interested in forging an alliance with AIADMK alike 2011 elections.

BJP's performance in Puducherry:

The party has never done well in Puducherry till date but in 2001 when it won just one seat during the Assembly election. However, the party is trying to do much better this time around with the support of AINRC.

Though nothing concrete has come up as yet BJP has already stated shortlisting the candidates that it will filed for 30 assembly constituencies for Puducherry election.