Pondicherry: Jose Charles Martin, the son of lottery tycoon Santiago Martin and businessman-turned-politician, has claimed that he was sidelined and “by no means really appreciated” throughout his 10-year tenure with the Bharatiya Janata Get together. Jose Charles Martin has distanced himself from the BJP and pitched himself as a 3rd occasion within the 2026 Pondicherry Union Territory Meeting elections, vowing to overthrow the “BJP-Congress-NR Congress syndicate”.
In an interview with The Print, Jose Charles stated Pondicherry’s political class has grow to be “out of contact” and “detached to individuals’s struggling”, creating a possibility for brand new gamers with sources and administrative readability.
To a query about Pondicherry’s liquor coverage and whether or not he would permit lotteries within the Union Territory, he stated if his occasion involves energy, its first goal can be unlawful arrack.
“Native beer brewing have to be banned instantly. High quality have to be improved and taxes rationalized. This isn’t a state the place I might usher in lottery tickets or casinos. Individuals are in poverty and now just isn’t the time to consider luxurious.”
Jose Charles additionally responded to election bond disclosures exhibiting that Martin Group has donated to each the BJP and DMK.
He stated enterprise and politics could be separated any further.
“As soon as I’m totally enthusiastic about politics, I’ll step again from many enterprise actions. My father and the board will deal with that. My focus can be on political actions.”
On Pondicherry’s long-pending demand for statehood, he stated he supported the demand “in precept” however maintained that the UT wanted “respiration area” and continued central help earlier than the transition.
He distanced himself from the coalition-centric strategy of his brother-in-law, TVK’s Aadhav Arjuna, in Tamil Nadu, arguing that solely a transparent majority, not a coalition authorities, might ship on his guarantees.
“With out energy, you’ll be able to’t transfer recordsdata or implement manifestos. That is why I am contesting all 30 seats,” he stated.
Jose Charles declined to call the occasion, however stated he would launch it in December.
Though his group, JCM Makkal Mandram, has been in comparison with that of Vijay’s pre-party Vijay Makkal Mandram, he claimed that his group is constructed “from the sales space stage” and never simply by way of branding.
Jose Charles BJP’s B staff?
Talking about his new political initiative, Jose Charles Martin stated the turning level got here when he was distributing aid supplies to flood-hit areas throughout the Fengal cyclone.
“This was an eye-opener. Folks had been residing in situations I by no means anticipated. The poverty right here is at a stage the place fundamental dignity itself is missing,” he stated, including that “25 years of political stagnation” had led him to start out his personal political occasion. He plans to contest all 30 constituencies within the 2026 parliamentary polls.
Jose Charles’ entry has already sparked accusations from Congress and the ruling NR Congress that he was hoisted by the Bharatiya Janata Get together. Jose Charles dismissed the transfer as concern by the opposition and the ruling occasion.
“Once they see the group round me, they instantly name me the B-team of the BJP. However individuals from the DMK, Congress and the BJP all wish to be a part of me. That in itself exhibits that I’m not anybody’s B-team,” he stated.
Jose Charles accused the present authorities of turning this institutional friction into political theater.
“They’re simply enjoying a blame recreation. The funds given by the Middle had been despatched again unused. They refused to the touch the funds as they didn’t need the BJP to be believed,” he alleged.
He additionally criticized what he known as the “syndicate mannequin” of Pondicherry politics, arguing that leaders throughout occasion traces are linked by liquor pursuits.
“There are bars in all places. Nobody needs to disturb anybody’s work. Legislation and order has damaged down, faculty youngsters are protesting within the streets, pattas (land titles) are being denied to underprivileged households. Folks need people who find themselves not corrupt and aren’t right here to generate profits,” he stated.
(Edited by Vinny Mishra)
Additionally learn: ‘Lottery king’ Santiago Martín’s son Jose launches new political occasion in Pondicherry
