Latest news with #AINRC
The Hindu
12-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
BJP, AINRC leaders call on Palaniswami
Leaders belonging to the BJP and AINRC on Saturday called on former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami when he made a stop-over in Puducherry during his tour to the districts in Tamil Nadu as part of Makkalai Kaappom, Thamizhagathai Meetpom campaign. A delegation led by Home Minister A. Namassivayam met Mr. Palaniswami at a private resort in Poornankuppam. Speaker R. Selvam, BJP president V. P. Ramalingam, BJP Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) Selvganabathy and AINRC leader N. S. J. Jayabal were part of the delegation. AIADMK Puducherry unit secretary A. Anbalagan said it was a courtesy call as the parties were in alliance. During his stay at the resort, representatives of various trade bodies and farmers welfare organisations from Cuddalore district also interacted with the former Chief Minister.
The Hindu
10-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Puducherry Chief Minister plays down differences with L-G
Chief Minister N. Rangasamy on Thursday played down reports of differences between him and Lieutenant Governor K. Kailashnathan over the appointment of Director of Health and Family Welfare Services in Puducherry. Interacting with reporters after a meeting with Nirmal Kumar Surana, BJP in-charge for the Union Territory at his residence in Gorimedu, the Chief Minister said differences between the elected government and the titular head were bound to arise considering the administrative apparatus in a Union Territory. 'There have always been differences between the elected government and the Lt. Governor in Puducherry due to the existing administrative system. Differences are there now as they have been earlier. As long as Puducherry remains a Union Territory, such differences are bound to happen. That is why all political parties want Statehood,' he said. Asked about reports of him being disappointed with Mr. Kailashnathan over the appointment of Health Director, the Chief Minister said there were minor issues in the administration and they were being sorted out. 'We all want the NDA to come back to power again in Puducherry after the 2026 Assembly poll. Discussions are on to avoid such differences and a mechanism will be put in place to sort out things in future,' he said. Denying any pressure from the BJP, Mr. Rangasamy said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had always showered him with respect even when he was heading a Congress government in Puducherry. Referring to the period when he was Chief Minister of the Congress government in Puducherry and Mr. Modi was heading the BJP government in Gujarat, Mr. Rangasamy said, 'We have had a good relationship from those times. We have mutual respect for each other.' The number of seats to be contested by BJP and AINRC in the 2026 Assembly poll will be decided at the time of election, the Chief Minister said, adding that people had voted the alliance to perform. 'We will continue to serve the people and return to power in 2026,' he said. Mr. Surana said the meeting was just a routine affair and both the parties would work together to win the 2026 Assembly poll. Minister for Public Works K. Lakshminarayanan, Deputy Speaker P. Rajavelou, AINRC legislators and Independents supporting the AINRC in the Assembly attended the meeting with Mr. Surana. On the part of BJP, Home Minister A. Namassivayam and party president V. P Ramalingam were present.
The Hindu
07-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Ruling BJP faces yet another challenge after resignation of lone Dalit Minister
The BJP is facing a difficult transition, after it sought the resignation of a Minister belonging to the Dalit community and three of its nominated legislators, especially given that the party will, in a few months, seek a second term for its coalition government with the AINRC in the 2026 Assembly elections. In a sudden development on June 27, the lone Dalit member, A.K. Sai J. Saravanan Kumar, submitted his resignation from the Cabinet headed by Chief Minister N. Rangasamy. Around the same time, three of the nominated legislators of the party — V.P. Ramalingam, K. Venkatesan and R.B. Ashok Babu — submitted their papers to the Speaker R. Selvam. The resignation of the legislators was duly notified by the Assembly Secretariat, just hours after the members put in their papers. However, in the case of the Minister's resignation, what remains in the public domain are the remarks made by the Chief Minister after meeting Lieutenant Governor K. Kailashnathan at the Raj Nivas in the evening of July 27 — that the government had decided to accept Mr. Kumar's resignation. Though almost 11 days have passed since the Chief Minister made those remarks, no notification has been issued declaring Mr. Kumar's resignation from the AINRC-BJP government, setting off intense speculation in political circles. 'The usual practice is once the resignation is forwarded to the Lt. Governor by the Chief Minister,the L-G sends it to the Ministry of Home Affairs [MHA]. After it gets Presidential clearance, the Confidential and Cabinet Department issues a notification. We have not received any communication from the Centre, so far, on the resignation of the Minister,' said a source in the Union Territory administration. Mr. Kumar, while speaking to reporters after submitting his papers, had told the media that he had put in papers as advised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 'I was appointed by Mr. Modi, and now he has asked me to resign,' he said. Till now, the BJP leadership has maintained a steady silence on Mr. Kumar's resignation, while the Opposition, especially the Congress, has raised questions on the 'removal' of the second Dalit Minister from the AINRC-BJP government in Puducherry. Two years ago, the AINRC legislator representing the reserved Nedungadu Assembly segment in Karaikal, S. Chandira Priyanga, was removed from the Cabinet as the Chief Minister was 'not happy' with the way she handled the portfolios. She was replaced with P.R.N. Thirumurugan, who represents the general constituency of Karaikal North. The present resignation of Mr. Kumar, according to a BJP insider, was based on a pre-arrangement during the time of government formation. 'It was decided, at the time of government formation, that a Cabinet berth would be shared between two legislators for a tenure of two and a half years. But now, it is the fag end of the Ministry, as the Model Code of Conduct will come into force in six to seven months. We do not know what compelled the leadership to invoke changes now, especially when Mr. Kumar was the sole Dalit representation and we don't have another legislator from the community to replace him. It was an ill-thought-out decision,' he said. According to another leader, the party had made it easier for the Opposition to corner the BJP even at the national level. Another challenge was finding a replacement for Mr. Kumar, considering the delicate caste equation within the party's legislature wing. Since the formation of the first NDA government in Puducherry, the BJP has been facing one challenge after the other, especially after the defeat from the lone Lok Sabha seat in Puducherry. After the defeat, three of its legislators have been making open statements, and taking an independent political stand. During the four-and-a-half year tenure, the party also drew flak for compromising its core ideology when two of its legislators and their family came under severe criticism from the Madras High Court for usurping a temple land. 'The present resignation of the Minister and legislators is the biggest challenge, and that is the reason why the party's Central leadership was taking time to find replacements. Even though the Speaker had publicly said that three new members were going to be appointed as nominated legislators soon, there has been no communication from the MHA regarding this. So, it means the Central leadership was taking its time,' a member of Sangh Parivar-affiliated organisation said.
The Hindu
28-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
CPI accuses AINRC-BJP government of making Dalit Ministers scapegoat in their power struggle
The Communist Party of India has accused the AINRC-BJP government of making Ministers belonging to the Dalit community 'scapegoats' in their internal power struggle. In a statement, party secretary A. M. Saleem said the AINRC-BJP combine which came to power in Puducherry after the 2021 Assembly polls had failed to deliver on its promises. The ruling camp was full of contradictions and caught in a power struggle, he said. 'In 2023, Chandira Priyanga, a Dalit member belonging to the AINRC was dropped from the Cabinet. And now, BJP member A.K. Sai J. Saravanan Kumar has resigned. Dalit Ministers become scapegoats whenever problems arise within the BJP and the AINRC combine. The BJP is anti-Dalit and against social justice,' Mr. Saleem said. He urged the people of Puducherry to give BJP a fitting lesson at the appropriate time.
New Indian Express
28-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
BJP reshuffles Puducherry unit, minister and three MLAs step down ahead of 2026 polls
PUDUCHERRY: The BJP on Friday initiated a major reshuffle in its Puducherry unit ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections, with Adi Dravidar Welfare Minister A K Sai Saravanan Kumar resigning from the N Rangasamy-led cabinet, and three nominated MLAs — V P Ramalingam, K Venkatesan, and R B Ashok Babu — stepping down. The resignations were directed by the party's central leadership as part of a strategy to bring in new faces in the run-up to the polls. Puducherry is the BJP's only stronghold in South India, where it governs in alliance with the AINRC. Sai Saravanan Kumar, the lone Dalit minister in the cabinet, confirmed he had stepped down on the party's instructions. 'I was appointed minister on June 27 at the direction of PM Narendra Modi. I have now resigned following his directive,' he said. Assembly Speaker R Selvam confirmed that the resignations of the three nominated MLAs had been accepted and forwarded to L-G K Kailashnathan for submission to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. BJP Puducherry in-charge Nirmal Kumar Surana said the party has finalised three names for the vacant nominated MLA posts. Those in consideration include S Rajasekaran, former Congress MLA E Theepainjan and D Selvam, current BJP vice-president.
