NDA on course to form govt in Puducherry

PONDICHERRY: The AINRC-led NDA looked all set to capture power in Puducherry by winning 13 assembly seats and leading in two when the results for 22 out of the total 30 segments were declared on Sunday.

The Congress-led front emerged victorious in five constituencies and the independents in four as the counting for votes polled in the April 6 elections, was still under way. According to the Election Commission, the AINRC secured 10, BJP three, DMK three, Congress two and the independents four. AINRC Chief and former Chief Minister N Rangasamy triumphed in Thattanchavady constituency and wrested the seat from DMK. Rangasamy aspired for annexing two segmentsThattanchavady and Yanam- in the April 6 polls.

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Sunday said it has “lost” elections in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry and West Bengal but has not “lost its morale or resolve” to continue to be people’s voice in these tough times.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the party would deliberate on its failures and do course correction after internal deliberations. “We have lost the election in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry and West Bengal but we have neither lost our morale nor our resolve or determination to continuously become people’s voice in these times of unprecedented calamity.

“The Congress Party will definitely study the results and all the reasons diligently and we are committed to correct our mistakes and do appropriate course correction,” he told reporters.

His remarks come after the Congress failed to make its mark in the states of Assam, Kerala and West Bengal, but its alliance with DMK won in Tamil Nadu.

Surjewala said the party has accepted the verdict with humility and a sense of responsibility.

“People’s mandate is the final word in democracy. People of West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry have given their democratic mandate for next five years. We accept the verdict with humility and a sense of responsibility. We recognise that the election results are not as per our expectations, particularly those of Assam and Kerala,” he said.

He also said the party recognises that its workers and leaders worked unitedly on the ground and gave their best, yet the people’s verdict was not in their favour.

Surjewala said the party has accepted the verdict with humility and a sense of responsibility