Senior BJP leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah today said that plans are underway to develop an industrial corridor in Puducherry and promote the Union Territory as a Blue Economy hub. Addressing an election meeting at Thirukkannur in support of the BJP candidate in the Mannadipet constituency, Mr Shah asserted that the NDA is committed to transforming Puducherry into a fully developed region.

Highlighting development initiatives, Mr Shah said a laptop manufacturing unit has been established in Puducherry with an annual production capacity of three lakh units. On employment, he claimed that the unemployment rate, which he said had risen to 47% during the earlier regime, has come down significantly to 4.3% under the NDA government. Mr. Shah alleged that the previous Congress government led by V. Narayanasamy had pushed Puducherry into backwardness, while the NDA government has focused on development with strong support from the Centre.