Puducherry not run according to aspirations of its people, but controlled by Delhi: Rahul Gandhi

Rahul Gandhi criticizes Puducherry's governance, claiming it's controlled by Delhi, not reflective of local people's aspirations.

Indirectly referring to the control exerted by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs over the administrative affairs of Puducherry due to its status as a Union Territory (UT), Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi said on Monday (April 6, 2026) that the territory was not run according to the aspirations of its people but of those ruling at the Centre.

Addressing a public meeting as part of the Congress’ campaign for the April 9 Assembly polls in Puducherry, Mr. Gandhi said that the government of Puducherry was not administered in accordance with the wishes of the citizens of the UT. “I feel sad that the territory is not run by the people of Puducherry. The government here is does not reflect the will of the people. The Lt. Governor is bypassing the will and expression of the people of Puducherry,” he alleged. 

The Congress, he said, was fully committed to according Statehood to Puducherry “when we come to power at the Centre.”

“We do not want the Lt. Governor to run Puducherry as though he is a king. The Congress wants Puducherry to be governed by the local people. So, we are committed to according Statehood to Puducherry,” he said. 

To loud cheers from the gathering, Mr. Gandhi raked up the delay in holding the local body polls in the UT and raised allegations of corruption against the AINRC-BJP government in Puducherry. 

Promising to hold the local body elections in the event of the Congress party securing a majority to form the government in the UT, Mr. Gandhi said that the strengthening of local bodies was important to improve governance. “If we come to power, within six months, we will hold the civic body elections. Elections to local bodies are a must to bring the younger generation into political leadership roles,” he said.