Puducherry, April 4 Actor-turned-politician and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay intensified his election campaign in Puducherry on Saturday, asserting that his party has fielded candidates who stand "with the people, as one among them".
With polling for the 30-member Puducherry Assembly scheduled for April 9, political activity has reached a peak, with just four days left for campaigning.
Vijay addressed a public gathering at Thattanchavadi market area, drawing a sizeable crowd of supporters. Earlier, he conducted a roadshow that reportedly extended beyond the time permitted by the police before proceeding to the campaign venue.
Addressing the rally, he said this is the first time his party is contesting in Puducherry and emphasised that candidate selection was based on grassroots connect rather than political pedigree.
Taking a sharp dig at rival alliances, Vijay criticised both the DMK-Congress combine and the NR Congress-BJP alliance. Referring to the DMK-Congress front, he said that while Congress had ruled Puducherry multiple times and DMK had also held power thrice, the alliance today exists "only in name" and is marked by internal contradictions. He alleged that leaders within the alliance had betrayed not only the people but even their own leadership, making it a subject of ridicule.
Turning to the NR Congress-BJP alliance, Vijay described it as a "weak and opportunistic" arrangement, accusing it of using his party for political gains.
He questioned both Congress and the BJP over their failure to grant statehood to Puducherry despite being in power at the Union level at different times. Citing a long-pending demand, he said his party would make "100 per cent efforts" to secure statehood if voted to power.
Outlining his promises, Vijay said a TVK government would immediately conduct local body elections, fill all government vacancies, and provide Rs 25 lakh insurance coverage for every family.
Framing the election as a choice between "deceptive alliances" and "people-oriented governance", Vijay urged voters to reject both major fronts and give his party an opportunity.
"Puducherry needs good governance. Give us a chance, and we will stand by you," he said.
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