2023: A quick look back at the year gone by

.2023 in Puducherry: Union Ministers tour region, Smart City projects, heritage buildings, cultural events, Padma awardee, French honours.

With the onset of a new year, a quick recap of 2023 compiled by The Puducherry Bureau.  

The year witnessed the two national parties—BJP and Congress—laying the groundwork for the upcoming parliamentary polls.

Several Union Ministers, including Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and the Central leaders of BJP, started touring the region since the beginning of 2023.

Union Minister of State for Fisheries L. Murugan, who was made in-charge for U.T. elections, has been making booth-level tours and house visits as part of the preparations.

However, the intense preparations got marred during the fag end of 2023 with the resignation of few party office bearers against the style of functioning of party local unit president and Member of Parliament S. Selvganabathy. Mr Selvaganbathy was made president of the party in September, replacing its longest serving Puducherry chief V. Saminathan.

The Congress, which was struggling to find a political space after its severe drubbing in 2021 Assembly polls, managed to inject some vigour by appointing former Chief Minister and MP V. Vaithilingam as PCC chief.

For the Congress, the year began on a slumber with factionalism coming to the fore prior to the appointment of Mr. Vaithilingam as PCC president. But with his appointment, the party was able to quell open rebellion within it’s local leadership.