Back Cong-DMK combine, Bhatti urges Puducherry voters

Hyderabad: Deputy chief minister Bhatti Vikramarka and BC welfare minister Ponnam Prabhakar on Friday urged voters in Puducherry to elect the candidates supported by the Congress-DMK alliance with a huge majority to protect democracy and safeguard the dignity and freedom granted by the Constitution.Bhatti, along with Ponnam and Puducherry PCC president Vaidyalingam, campaigned extensively in the Manavely Assembly constituency in support of Congress candidate Anantharaman, and in the M Balam constituency in support of Congress candidate Lakshmikant. "Bring the Congress party to power and save Puducherry. The SPA alliance, comprising Congress and DMK, is firmly committed to implementing all the promises it has made. Do not believe the misinformation being spread by the NDA alliance regarding the implementation of these guarantees. Electing the SPA alliance is the only way to ensure a bright future for Puducherry," Bhatti said during his campaign.Responding to doubts whether guarantees can be implemented, the deputy CM said Telangana itself is the answer. "Immediately after coming to power, the Congress govt in Telangana began implementing its guarantees from the very first Cabinet meeting. Farm loans worth ₹21,000 crore belonging to 25 lakh farmers have been waived off. Additionally, ₹18,000 crore is being provided annually under the Rythu Bharosa scheme, at ₹12,000 per acre for farmers," Bhatti said.As many as 67,173 govt jobs have been filled up, with recruitment completed across departments and appointment letters distributed transparently in the presence of the public. Under the Mahalakshmi scheme, free bus travel has been provided to women, he said.Stating that 200 units of free electricity is being provided and 4,50,000 Indiramma houses have been sanctioned, with ₹5 lakh financial assistance for each house, the deputy CM said the ₹500 gas cylinder scheme is also being implemented.Expressing confidence, the Deputy Chief Minister said that under the Telangana Rising Vision Document-2047, the state aims to become a $1 trillion economy by 2034 and a $3 trillion economy by 2047. Telangana's growth rate stands at 10.8%, Bhatti said, and asserted that development is possible without increasing taxes, which the Congress govt has successfully demonstrated in Telangana.