Puducherry: Congress thanks cadres and allies for historic win

Puducherry: Congress could have won more seats in the Union Territory in its “historic” win but for the anti-party activities by some workers, Puducherry Pradesh Congress Committee president A Namassivyam said on Saturday.

“Congress registered a historic win in the 16 May assembly polls and could have annexed a few more seats, but anti-party activities by some Congress workers had resulted in it losing winning chances in other segments.”

Congress won 15 of the 21 seats it contested in the 30-member assembly. Its poll partner DMK was earmarked the remaining nine seats, of which it annexed two — one each from Puducherry and Karaikal regions.

Namassivayam said the party would not let those who had indulged in anti-party activities go scot free. “We will not brook indiscipline at any level in the party,” he said.

He was addressing a meeting of workers and functionaries of different wings of the party on former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s 25th death anniversary at the PCC office in Puducherry.

Namassivayam said Congress is people-centric and their record of performance in the past had convinced people that the party would deliver on its promises.

He said the outgoing AINRC government had failed to measure up to people’s expectations and lost their confidence.

Thanking all party cadres, Namassivayam, who retained Villianoor seat for the second successive term, said he was also grateful to DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi and leaders of other alliance parties for their sustained cooperation to help the party establish a record.

AICC General Secretary V Narayanasamy and most of the 15 newly elected Congress legislators were present at the meeting.

Namassivayam administered an ‘anti-terrorism’ pledge to all present and silence was observed for a couple of minutes.

He later told newsmen that a joint meeting of all elected legislators would be held later today. CLP leader’s election would take place soon with guidance of the high command.

Namassivayam later paid homage at a statue of Rajiv Gandhi at a main junction here. He later left for Sriperumbudur near Chennai to pay homage at the memorial of the former prime minister there.