In a statement here today, president of the local unit of the BJP V Saminathan said that the NDA government had accorded to Puducherry the status equivalent to a state by accommodating the Union Territory in the Central Finance Commission.
"This is a step in the right direction and Puducherry would stand to benefit as the sharing of revenue by the Centre with Puducherry on a par with the States would enable the Puducherry government to draw sufficient funds from the Finance Commission to chalk out welfare schemes", he said.