Special session will be convened to reiterate statehood demand, says Puducherry CM

Puducherry, Jul 10 (PTI) Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy on Thursday said that a special session of the territorial assembly would be convened soon to reiterate the plea for statehood to Puducherry, now a union territory.

He said after holding talks with the BJP's in-charge of Puducherry, Nirmal Kumar Surana, on various issues relating to the administrative matters of Puducherry, "the demand for statehood has been hanging in the balance. Every elected government in Puducherry has been constantly urging the Centre to grant statehood. Statehood is the only solution for Puducherry to ensure implementation of decisions of the elected government," he told reporters.

Rangasamy is heading the AINRC-BJP coalition ministry here. There was a difference of opinion recently between him and the Lieutenant Governor K Kailashnathan on finalising candidate for the post of Director of Health and Family Welfare Department of Puducherry government, a source in the AINRC said.

With the candidate finalised by the Lt Governor having been appointed as the Director, the CM's recommendation was not accepted by the Lt Governor. This irked the CM who openly told some of his ministerial colleagues that "there is no point in my being a Chief Minister when my recommendation of the candidate for the post has not been conceded by the Lt Governor".

A crisis of sorts erupted in the government and the chief minister also did not come to his office since Monday to show his discontent, they said.

The government's coalition partner -- the BJP apprised the matter to high command. Surana rushed to Puducherry on Wednesday "to pacify the Chief Minister". He held discussions with Rangasamy at the latter's residence.

The AINRC source said that the talks between Surana and the CM ended in compromise.

Rangasamy later told reporters that as long as Puducherry continued as a union territory difference of opinion between the elected government and the Lt Governor would emerge. "This is not happening now. It has been witnessed for years. The only solution to end the differences is to get statehood for Puducherry. The territorial assembly would meet soon to reiterate the demand for upgradation of Puducherry into a state," he said.

Rangasamy resumed attending office after Surana "pacified him", the AINRC sources said.

Already a seven-member delegation of AINRC legislators led by PWD Minister K Lakshminarayanan had presented a memorandum to Speaker R Selvam on Tuesday seeking a special session of the House to adopt a resolution for statehood.

The Assembly had adopted resolutions for statehood in the past and these resolutions first moved as private member`s motion was converted into official resolutions. This has happened in not less than 13 sessions of the House in the past. The Centre has not responded to any of these resolutions so far.

Puducherry became free from the French rule de jure in 1962 and became a union territory in 1963 having in its fold Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam regions. PTI COR KH