Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy has exhorted party workers to work for the victory of a candidate from either the ruling party or its coalition partners in the Thattanchavady byelection.
Speaking at a protest organised by the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) in front of the head post office on the second anniversary of demonetisation, Mr. Narayanasamy said that Thattanchavady seat had been declared vacant.
“We should ensure the resounding victory of the candidate in the byelection irrespective of whether he is from the party or our alliance partner. The party workers should ensure the victory of the party in the Lok Sabha elections and ensure that Puducherry remains a fortress of the Congress,” he said.
Mr. Narayanasamy said the demonetisation of high value notes by Narendra Modi had slowed down the growth of the Indian economy. Minister for Public Works and PCC president A. Namassivayam flayed the demonetisation move by the Centre and said it had caused hardship to the common man.
CM slams Centre
All India Congress Committee Secretary (in-charge of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry) Sanjay Dutt came down heavily on the Centre for its demonetisation of high-value currency and skyrocketing of fuel prices.
He said that on one hand, none of the stated objectives of demonetisation announced by Mr. Modi were achieved while on the other the BJP had converted all the black money into real estate and constructed party offices in all the States.
Mr. Dutt pointed out that over 1.5 million jobs were lost and the small and medium industries had been destroyed.
The value of the Indian rupee had been going down while the prices of fuel had been on the rise.
He called upon the rank and file of the Congress to teach a befitting lesson to the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections and send Mr. Modi back to Gujarat.
“We should all ensure that AICC president Rahul Gandhi is made the next Prime Minister and Puducherry should set the stage for the party’s victory,” Mr. Dutt said.
Revenue Minister M.O.H.F. Shahajahan, legislators M.N.R. Balan, V. Vizeaveny, E. Theeppainthan, former Ministers E. Valsaraj and Pethaperumal participated.