Puducherry CM Rangasamy ready to quit over statehood demand

Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy on Friday strongly backed the Union Territory’s long-standing demand for statehood, saying he was even prepared to resign from his post to press the Centre on the issue.

Rangasamy made the remarks in the Assembly during a debate on the delay in granting statehood to Puducherry. Leader of the Opposition A M H Nazeem called for a united protest to urge the Centre to approve the demand.

Ruling AINRC legislator A John Kumar also participated in the debate and sought special category status for Puducherry.

Responding to the demands, Rangasamy said he was ready to step down to strengthen the statehood campaign and proposed that elected representatives travel to Delhi together to present their case before the Centre.

“I am ready to quit to reinforce our demand for statehood. We would all go to Delhi to place before the Centre our plea for Statehood,” he said.

Rangasamy said the government was facing difficulties because Puducherry continues to function as a Union Territory without the powers available to a full-fledged state. He said he had raised the issue several times, including directly with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the latter’s recent visit to Puducherry.

“I have specifically told the Prime Minister that it is a matter of concern for us that we continue to remain without powers,” Rangasamy said.

The chief minister argued that statehood was essential for Puducherry’s faster development and for the effective and timely implementation of government schemes.

Following his statement, members from both the ruling and opposition benches said they were also willing to give up their positions to support the statehood demand.

Pro tem Speaker A Anbalagan pointed out that the Puducherry Assembly had passed resolutions on several occasions urging the Centre to grant statehood to the Union Territory.

On the proposal for special category status, Anbalagan said Puducherry would not qualify because it does not meet several of the conditions required for such a classification. He maintained that the Assembly should therefore focus on pursuing full statehood instead.

Rangasamy heads the ruling alliance comprising the AINRC, BJP, AIADMK and LJK in Puducherry. 

with inputs from PTI