Watch Puducherry CM Rangasamy rides Yamaha RX100 motorcycle to reach polling booth in Delarshpet

Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy adhered to tradition as he rode his trusted motorcycle to the polling booth in Thilaspet to exercise his voting rights during the first phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Riding a black Yamaha RX100 model bike, Rangasamy arrived at the Delarshpet polling booth surrounded by party supporters, maintaining his preference for commuting on his motorbike over his official car.

After casting his vote, Rangasamy, accompanied by BJP's candidate A Namassivayam, visited the Appa Paithiam Sami temple in Gorimedu. Namassivayam is in direct competition with Congress candidate V Vaithilingam for the Lok Sabha seat of Puducherry. Additionally, Menaka from Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) and G Thamizhvendan (AIADMK) are also vying for the seat in this Lok Sabha election.



Voting for all 39 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu and the only constituency in Puducherry commenced this morning. Notably, Puducherry stands out as the only seat in the Union Territory where female voters outnumber male voters. Local residents emphasized a fierce competition between the BJP and Congress candidates, underscoring demands for basic facilities like toilets, drinking water, and sun sheds, along with the pressing issue of statehood.

During the vigorous campaign, BJP leaders accused the Congress of neglecting the issue of granting full statehood to the UT during its decades-long tenure at the Centre. In response, Congress leaders highlighted their party's "Nyay Patra" or manifesto, which promises full statehood for Puducherry.

Despite the general perception that neither party is overly committed to pursuing the 'statehood' demand, political adversaries have engaged in relentless mud-slinging on the campaign trail, exchanging blows over various issues.

(Inputs from ANI)