Governance – Puducherry Cabinet Expansion Cleared as Three MLAs Set to Join Ministry
Governance – The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has approved a proposal submitted by Puducherry Chief Minister N. Rangasamy to expand the Union Territory’s Council of Ministers. The decision paves the way for three legislators to enter the cabinet, strengthening the government formed after the recent Assembly elections.
Centre Approves New Ministerial Appointments
In an official communication issued on Monday, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced that the President has approved the appointment of P. Rajavelu, V.P. Sivakolundhu, and G.N.S. Rajasekaran as ministers in the Puducherry government. The appointments will take effect from the date the three leaders formally take their oath of office.
The approval follows recommendations made by Chief Minister Rangasamy, who had forwarded the names to the Union Home Ministry for consideration as part of a cabinet expansion exercise.
Oath Ceremony Expected Soon
With the Centre’s clearance now in place, preparations are expected to move forward for the swearing-in ceremony. Once they take the oath, the three MLAs will officially become members of the Council of Ministers and assume their respective responsibilities within the administration.
Among those selected, G.N.S. Rajasekaran represents the Thirunallar Assembly constituency in Karaikal district. He secured victory in the constituency while contesting on a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ticket and will now become part of the Union Territory’s ministerial team.
Developments in the Newly Constituted Assembly
The cabinet expansion comes shortly after the formation of the new legislative assembly. On May 20, Pro-tem Speaker A. Anbalagan administered the oath of office to the newly elected members of the Assembly, marking an important step in the establishment of the new government.
The swearing-in process for legislators was conducted under the supervision of the Pro-tem Speaker, who was entrusted with carrying out the constitutional formalities before the regular functioning of the Assembly begins.
Anbalagan’s Appointment as Pro-tem Speaker
Earlier, on May 15, Lieutenant Governor K. Kailashnathan appointed A. Anbalagan as the Pro-tem Speaker of the 16th Puducherry Legislative Assembly. The appointment was made following a recommendation from Chief Minister Rangasamy.
Anbalagan, who is the lone representative of the AIADMK in the Assembly, won the Oupalam constituency by defeating Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam candidate S. Siva. His victory margin stood at 1,026 votes.
NDA Government Continues in Puducherry
The latest cabinet expansion follows the return of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to power in the Union Territory. N. Rangasamy, founder of the All India NR Congress (AINRC), took oath as Chief Minister on May 13 after the alliance secured another term in office.
The oath-taking ceremony was conducted by Lieutenant Governor K. Kailashnathan and attended by senior alliance leaders and BJP representatives. The formation of the government came after the Assembly election results were announced on May 4.
Election Outcome and Assembly Strength
The 30-member Puducherry Legislative Assembly delivered a clear mandate in favor of the NDA. The All India NR Congress emerged as the largest party with 12 seats, while the BJP secured four seats. The AIADMK won one seat, contributing to the alliance’s overall strength.
On the opposition side, the DMK captured five seats and the Congress secured one. Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), contesting its first Assembly election in the Union Territory, registered its presence by winning two seats.
The induction of three new ministers is expected to complete a key phase of government formation and help the administration distribute responsibilities across departments as it begins its new term.