PUDUCHERRY: Chief Minister N. Rangasamy on Friday said he was prepared to resign his MLA post to press the long-standing demand for Statehood for Puducherry, and indicated he could travel to Delhi to take up the matter with the Union government if an assurance was given.
Statement in Assembly amid Budget discussion
The remark was made during the general discussion on the Budget in the Puducherry Assembly as members debated the territory's demand for full Statehood for the second straight day. The Chief Minister's intervention followed a reference to alternatives such as Special Category Status by a Bharatiya Janata Party MLA, which provoked exchanges across the House.
“I am ready to resign my MLA post, and if there is an assurance that Statehood will be given, we can go to Delhi to take up the demand with the Central government.”
The comment, reported from the Assembly proceedings, underscored Rangasamy's public commitment to the cause at a moment when the issue has resurfaced in legislative debate.
Parliamentary exchanges and party positions
The Statehood discussion intensified after BJP legislator A. John Kumar suggested that securing full Statehood might not be feasible and proposed seeking Special Category Status as an alternative. His intervention drew a protest from the Pro-tem Speaker, who said the Assembly had previously passed unanimous resolutions urging the Centre to grant Statehood.
Opposition members also weighed in. DMK legislator and Leader of the Opposition A.M.H. Nazeem urged the House to demonstrate solidarity by briefly adjourning proceedings as a symbolic gesture to press the demand before the Centre.
According to the Assembly record, the exchanges highlighted an apparent divergence between positions voiced in the House and longer-term political realities: one member observed that both Congress and previous Centre governments had not granted Statehood, while another argued for renewed assertiveness by the territorial leadership.
Why Statehood matters
The demand for Statehood for Puducherry is rooted in constitutional, administrative and financial considerations. Full statehood would alter the Centre–territory relationship, including the powers of the elected government and the role of the Lt. Governor, and could affect resource allocations and legislative competence.
Proponents view Statehood as a way to secure greater autonomy and parity with other states, while critics in previous debates have pointed to political, legal and administrative hurdles that would need resolution at the national level.
What happened next in the House
Members continued the Budget discussion after the intervention. The Chief Minister's offer to resign was framed as a tactical step to underline the seriousness of the demand before taking it to the Union government, though the Assembly did not take a formal vote on resignation or other immediate actions during Friday's sitting.
- Chief Minister: N. Rangasamy offered to resign his MLA post to pursue Statehood.
- BJP MLA: A. John Kumar suggested pursuing Special Category Status as an alternative.
- Opposition: DMK leader A.M.H. Nazeem proposed a short adjournment as a show of unity on the demand.
Political and procedural next steps
The path to Statehood would require action by the Union government and, potentially, parliamentary legislation. Rangasamy's statement signals an intent to take the matter to the Centre, but it does not by itself initiate any constitutionally mandated procedure. Achieving Statehood would involve consultations between the Union and territorial governments and likely debate in both Houses of Parliament.
For now, the Assembly has again kept the demand in the public domain, with the chief minister personally raising the stakes by offering to vacate his elected position if that would secure an assurance from the Centre.
| Actor | Position expressed in Assembly |
|---|---|
| Chief Minister N. Rangasamy | Prepared to resign MLA post; would approach Centre for Statehood |
| BJP MLA A. John Kumar | Suggested Special Category Status as a pragmatic alternative |
| DMK Opposition Leader A.M.H. Nazeem | Called for a symbolic adjournment to show unity for Statehood |
Any formal move towards resignation, further Assembly action or direct representations to the Prime Minister were not reported as taken immediately after Friday's sitting. The issue is likely to remain a focal point in Puducherry political discourse as leaders weigh strategies to press their demand before the Union government.
