Puducherry: All India NR Congress (AINRC) and BJP finalised a seat-sharing arrangement in Puducherry on Friday, ending the tussle over over inclusion of Jose Charles Martin’s Latchiya Jananayaga Katchi (LJK) in the alliance. BJP managed to convince the AINRC on accommodating LJK. As per the arrangement, AINRC would contest in 16 seats while BJP and its allies will contest the remaining 14 seats. BJP has planned to contest in 10 seats, allotting two seats each to AIADMK and LJK from its quota. AINRC founder and chief minister N Rangasamy, who opposed the inclusion of LJK in the NDA fold, finally gave in after direct intervention from the BJP high command in New Delhi. He called on Union minister and BJP election in-charge for Puducherry, Mansukh Mandaviya, at a hotel to finalise the deal. Rangasamy told reporters in the presence of Mandaviya after the meeting, “We are firmly in the NDA. There is no change in our stance. We will face this election together.” On the friction over the LJK, Rangasamy said Union home minister Amit Shah had personally advised him LJK’s inclusion would strengthen the coalition. “Based on that advice, the new party is now part of the alliance,” he said. Mandaviya said Rangasamy was the leader of the NDA in Puducherry and the election will be fought under his leadership. On AINRC’s demand for statehood for Puducherry, Mandaviya said NDA’s poll manifesto would give an answer to the issue. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shah will visit Puducherry to spearhead the poll campaign. Rangasamy also filed nomination papers to contest from two constituencies, Thattanchavady and Mangalam. Meanwhile, the DMK- Congress front was yet to finalise seat sharing.
